Much to the surprise of visitors and even some Chinese from out of town, Beijing does have its own authentic little tea street that is more than burgeoning, it’s home to the largest tea market in northern China. Here, you can find the street lined with hundreds of tea shops that stock everything from vast varieties of tea leaves to tea sets and other goods. It may not make it to the top of anyone’s wish list of places to visit while in Beijing, but it is a great place to check out tea and tea culture if you have the time.
Getting to Beijing’s Tea Street, known as Mǎliándào (马连道), is much easier today than it was just a few months ago. With the opening of Beijing Subway Line 7, you’re just a couple of minutes away by foot once you exit the subway station. Take Beijing Subway Line 7 and depart from the Southwest exit of Wanzi Station. This street, Mǎliándào, is located just south of Beijing West Railway Station. You’ll be coming from the northern end of the street. Notice as you walk south that you will instantly notice the line of stores along the street selling tea. Not only just shops, but they are little teahouses where you can sample and purchase your tea. On the street, you’ll pass by several large tea department stores, more like megamalls of independent tea shops that sell everything from regular tea leaves and tea sets to posh offerings that are too expensive to even think about buying.
Take your time walking around and enjoy the old neighborhood. It may not be as authentic as it was maybe a decade ago, but it’s far from having turned into a Disneyland of tea. Do notice that just because this may be a huge area concentrated by tea shops, the majority of the business is wholesale. That means you can’t expect to find a bargain here. You should do your research and are better off buying from a tea shop chain around the city like Wuyutai (the purveyors of delicious soft-serve green tea ice cream that commands long lines around the city like atQianmen). Sure, you can even find a Wuyutai store here too. What you can definitely experience is a collective idea of how large the tea industry was and still is. Think of how tea traveled through the Silk Road and ended up a large part of British culture. That all originated here in China.
It’s best to come here during the middle of business hours as it guarantees the majority of the shops to be open. Come here too late and you’ll miss out on the bustling scene. Once you’re done with your visit, continue walking south on the street and you can get some of your shopping done at the nearby Carrefour store. Likewise, take a walk around the old neighborhood, likely a place you haven’t explored around before.
