There are four types of teahouses in Beijing, "Shu, Jiu, Qing, Ye" in Chinese.

The "Shu" teahouse serves storytelling. Guests can drink tea and hear the storytellers telling various legends, historical novels and stories. The performance is usually paid. The "Jiu" teahouse offers both tea and drink. Simple dishes are available as well. The “Qing” teahouse mainly provides service for businessmen. They often gather here for meeting or business. The "Ye" teahouse is more common compared to the "Qing" teahouse. It is usually located in suburbs. Without shop front, the teahouse is consisted of several tables and benches placed under the tree. It provides passengers a place to rest.The tea house industry was most prosperous in the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China. Most of teahouses were consisted of three to five store fronts, with a reception desk and a kitchen. A big teapot stood in the middle of house offering tea for tourists. Besides, various traditional opera performances were also available.