CHINA NATIONAL TEA MUSEUM
HANGZHOU, CHINA
China is synonymous with tea. Legend has it that tea was discovered by Chinese emperor Shennong almost 5,000 years ago, so it seems fitting that the country has more than one museum dedicated to it.
The country’s national tea museum sits in the hills near Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. Sprawled over 3.7 hectares, the China National Tea Museum opened its doors to the public in 1990. Since then, millions of visitors have explored its exhibits on the culture of tea and the iconic beverage’s historical development in the region.
Visitors can learn about the origin, evolution and resulting prosperity of Chinese tea before sampling over 100 different varieties in the Tea Collection Hall. Every tea family is represented there, from green and black to oolong, white and dark. For those more interested in tea cultivation, the museum has plenty of information about growing, processing and preservation.
If teaware is more your thing, you won’t feel left out. The museum’s Tea Sets Hall contains all the historic paraphernalia you could ever want to see. From Neolithic teapots to modern tea containers, you can uncover the gold, jade and ivory items that the Chinese have used with their tea for centuries.
One of the highlights of your visit will no doubt be the Tea Custom Hall. Here you can experience tea etiquette from every corner of China in traditional ceremonies.
Open 1 May – 7 October, 9am-5pm; 8 October
– 30 April 30, 8:30am-4:30pm (closed on Mondays; open on public holidays). Admission is free.