Lao She Tea HouseⅣ

A highlight is the tea pouring acrobatics of the waiters. The waiters masterfully pour tea from a very long spouted tea pot into a small tea cup, which is always greeted by much applause. Amazingly fresh tea is served throughout dinner and the performance. There is also a tea and curio shop in the teahouse.

Lao She (1899-1966), real name Shu Qingchun, was of Manchurian descent and the famous author of the book called "Camel Xiangzi" also known in the US as "Rickshaw". It was a bestseller in the US where Lao She was a visiting professor. He also taught Chinese at the Oriental School of London University in his earlier days. His drama Teahouse displayed his linguistic talent of the Beijing dialect, depicting the customers with their bird cages and their pipes enjoying tea and gossip. Other famous works are Crescent Moon, City of Cats, The Yellow Storm and the Drum Singers. Unfortunately, despite his great love for China, he was hounded by the Gang of Four to suicide by drowning. He was posthumously rehabilitated in 1979 and his complete works were fully available. His wife, Hu Jieqing (1905-2001) a close friend of Prof. M.L. Pei, was an accomplished painter.