China National Tea Museum

​​1. Historical & Cultural Significance​​

Established in ​​1991​​ and expanded in ​​2015​​ with a second campus, this ​​UNESCO-listed​​ museum preserves China’s tea legacy, from Neolithic wild tea trees to modern global trade. Its ​​5,000+ artifacts​​ include:

• ​​Tang Dynasty white-glazed tea sets​​ (618–907 AD)
• ​​Swedish "Götheborg" shipwreck tea​​ (1745)
• ​​360kg pressed Pu’er tea brick​​ (world’s largest exhibit)

The museum bridges tradition and innovation, hosting ​​G20 Summit cultural events (2016)​​ and annual ​​"West Lake International Tea Festival"​​.

​​2. Key Attractions​​

• ​​Shuangfeng Campus​​:
  • ​​Five Thematic Halls​​: Tea History (茶史厅), Tea Varieties (茶萃厅), Tea Science (茶事厅), Tea Ware (茶具厅), and Tea Customs (茶俗厅).
  • ​​"No Walls" Design​​: Blends with ​​47-acre tea gardens​​, featuring ​​160+ global tea cultivars​​ like Dragon Well (龙井) and Tieguanyin (铁观音).
• ​​Longjing Campus​​:
  • ​​"World Tea Culture" Exhibit​​: Traces tea’s spread to 60+ countries, with interactive displays on Japanese chanoyu and British afternoon tea.
  • ​​Tea Art Performances​​: Daily gongfu tea ceremonies and Song Dynasty-style whisking demonstrations.

​​3. Visitor Experience​​

• ​​Hands-On Activities​​:
  • ​​Tea picking/roasting​​ (April–May) in nearby plantations.
  • ​​DIY ceramic workshops​​ to craft replica Tang tea bowls.
• ​​Practical Info​​:
  • ​​Hours​​: 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (closed Mondays; free admission).
  • ​​Transport​​: Metro Line 3 to Longjing Station, then bus 27.

​​4. Global Impact​​

Recognized as a ​​"Top 10 National Exhibition" (2003)​​, the museum collaborates with ​​Japan’s Chado Research Center​​ and ​​UK’s Tea Guild​​. Its digital archives (e.g., ​​"24 Solar Terms Tea Culture"​​) reach 2M+ annual online visitors.