The China National Tea Museum, located in the Longjing area on the shore of West Lake, is the only state-level museum in China entirely dedicated to tea culture. It was founded in 1991 and covers an area of 4.7 hectares, seamlessly blending into the natural landscape with tea plantations, streams, and gardens. The museum`s architecture combines traditional southern Chinese style with modern elements, symbolizing the connection between past and present.
On the museum grounds is the China International Tea Culture Association, which coordinates research on tea culture, organizes international conferences and festivals. For diplomatic and cultural meetings, the association has built several traditional pavilions (ting) by the stream, where guests can participate in tea ceremonies amidst nature.
The History of Tea in the Museum`s Exhibitions
The museum`s exhibition is divided into several halls, each detailing the five-thousand-year history of Chinese tea:
• Hall of Tea Origins: Displays ancient manuscripts, tools for harvesting and processing tea leaves, and maps tracing the spread of tea from China to the world. It mentions Shennong, the mythical emperor who discovered tea as a medicine.
• Hall of the Tang and Song Dynasties: The golden age of tea culture. Features reconstructions of tea ceremonies, bronze utensils, and copies of Lu Yu`s "The Classic of Tea" (Cha Jing)—the world`s first scientific work on tea.
• Hall of Tea Traditions: Explores regional differences in tea preparation, from whisking powdered tea in the Song Dynasty to brewing leaf tea in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
• Hall of Tea Globalization: Showcases maps of the Great Tea Route, historical documents on tea exports to Europe and Asia, and examples of Chinese tea culture`s influence on Japan, Korea, and Britain.
Tea Ceremony and Live Demonstrations
The museum regularly hosts masterclasses on the Chinese tea ceremony (Gongfu Cha). Visitors can witness:
• Traditional brewing of oolong, pu-erh, and Longjing green tea.
• The art of using Yixing clay teaware.
• The philosophy of "He" (harmony) underlying tea drinking.
Tea Export and Modernity
The museum emphasizes China`s role as the birthplace of tea, exported via the Silk Road and maritime routes. A dedicated exhibition covers:
• The history of tea trade with Russia (caravan routes through Kyakhta).
• Tea`s influence on British culture (e.g., the five o`clock tea tradition).
• Modern ecological initiatives in tea production.
The China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou is not just a collection of artifacts but a living cultural center. Here, visitors can:
• Stroll through tea plantations.
• Participate in leaf harvesting (in April-May).
• Taste freshly picked Longjing at a local tea house.
As the inscription at the entrance states: "Tea is not just a drink—it is a path to understanding the Chinese soul."
