CHENGDU / CULTURE
The art of slowing down
A cup of tea is a place to begin.
A place to gather
In Chengdu, tea drinking belongs to everyday life. A teahouse offers a setting for sitting together, talking and taking a pause. GoChengdu describes the local approach as relaxed, with customs that vary with the tea and the equipment.
Meet the gaiwan
A gaiwan is a covered tea bowl. Looking at the bowl, lid and saucer makes a useful first step toward understanding this way of drinking tea. Rather than expecting one formal ceremony everywhere, pay attention to how a particular teahouse serves its guests.
A wider living tradition
UNESCO’s recognition of Chinese tea practices includes both the skills of making tea and the social customs of sharing it. Chengdu provides one local view of that broader tradition; it does not stand for every tea culture in China.
A WORD TO KNOW
Gaiwan
A lidded bowl used for brewing or drinking tea.
Keep reading.
Sources and further context for this introduction.
