3-hour Morning/Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street & Dimsum

Maliandao Tea Street is the main event here: a sprawling market where tea is traded, sampled, and sold from shops linked to tea farms around China. You taste eight kinds, then sit down for a generous dimsum meal with items such as soup buns, shrimp ravioli, chicken feet, and spring rolls.

I like the small-group format, which is listed at eight or fewer in the itinerary and capped at 15 overall. I also like the pairing of a calm tea ceremony with a lively meal. The main drawback is the price, $99 per person, and the meeting-point details need checking because the information gives both Subway Line 7 Wanzi Exit C and Exit D.

Key points to know

• Eight teas in one sitting: Expect green, oolong, black, puer, white, and other Chinese teas.
• Maliandao is a tea-trading district: You visit two shops and see a major market rather than a single polished tasting room.
• Dimsum is included: The meal can include soup buns, vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more.
• Three hours is a tidy time frame: The tea tasting, market visit, and meal fit into one morning or afternoon.
• Renny may be your guide: A warm, helpful guide named Renny is associated with one especially well-received outing.
• Confirm the subway exit: The tour details list both Wanzi Exit C and Exit D, so ask for the current instruction before setting out.

Maliandao Tea Street: Beijing’s tea market at full scale

This tour begins at Maliandao Tea Street, one of Beijing’s major tea-trading areas. That matters because you are not simply sitting in a hotel lounge with a short list of tea bags. You are entering a market built around the trade itself, with shops serving buyers and tea drinkers from many parts of the world.

Your guide takes you to two tea shops. The shops selected for the visit are described as places connected to real tea farms, which gives the tasting a useful point of reference. You can see how tea is presented, discussed, and sold, while your guide helps explain the differences between the leaves in your cup.

The market setting may feel less polished than a formal attraction. That is part of its appeal, but it also means the experience can be more commercial than a quiet cultural demonstration. You should expect tea shops, sales activity, and a working marketplace rather than a museum-style visit.

Eight teas and a traditional ceremony

The tasting includes eight different teas. The listed varieties include green, oolong, black, puer, and white tea, along with other styles. That gives you a broad introduction to Chinese tea without requiring you to commit to a full-day tea course.

The tea ceremony is included in the price. A guide or tea specialist prepares and serves the tea while you taste the differences from one cup to the next. You may notice changes in color, scent, body, and aftertaste, although the exact order and selection can vary.

This is a useful part of the outing if you are new to Chinese tea. Tea names can seem like a blur when you encounter them on menus and shop labels. Tasting several types in one sitting gives you a practical way to sort out what you like before you buy anything.

I would treat the ceremony as a guided introduction rather than an expert-level lesson. The information supplied does not promise a detailed lecture about growing regions, brewing temperatures, or tea storage. If those subjects matter to you, ask questions as you taste. A small group makes that easier, especially when the guide can respond without managing a large crowd.

The tea shops and the shopping question

The two-shop format gives the experience more range than a single tasting stop. You can compare the feel and selection of different sellers, and you have a chance to see how tea is offered in one of Beijing’s best-known tea districts.

You are not required to make a purchase based on the details provided, and personal expenses are not included. Keep that distinction in mind. The $99 price covers the guided experience, tea tasting, ceremony, dimsum, and local taxes, but any tea or other item you buy is extra.

If you are shopping, use the tasting to decide what suits you rather than buying the first tea you are handed. Ask about the tea’s source, how it should be stored, and how the shop recommends brewing it. The tour is most useful when you leave with a better sense of your own taste, not simply a bag of leaves chosen under pressure.

Dimsum after the tasting

After the tea portion, you go to a nearby tea restaurant for dimsum. This is not a token snack. The meal includes several classic items, with steamed soup buns, steamed vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and other dishes listed as possibilities.

The combination works well. Tea clears the palate and gives you something to compare, while dimsum brings a completely different set of textures and flavors. The meal also makes the outing more than a shopping stop. You sit down, eat, and get a taste of a familiar Chinese dining style.

A past outing with Renny included pork dumplings and hand-pulled noodles in addition to the tea tasting. That tells you the exact menu may change, so do not treat the listed dishes as a guaranteed plate-by-plate order. The common thread is a substantial Chinese meal with several shared dishes.

Some dimsum items may be new to you. Chicken feet, for example, are a traditional choice but not everyone enjoys the texture. If you have dietary limits, mention them when booking. A vegetarian option is available if requested in advance, which is important because the standard menu includes meat and seafood.

Morning at 10 or afternoon at 3

You can choose a 10:00 a.m. start or a 3:00 p.m. start. Both options last about three hours.

The morning departure works well if you want to spend the rest of the day elsewhere in Beijing. It also places dimsum closer to lunch, which may suit your appetite. The afternoon departure gives you a slower start and can fit neatly after a morning visit to another part of the city.

The experience is listed as tea tasting followed by food, but the precise pace may depend on the group and the shops. Allow the full three hours rather than planning a tightly timed attraction immediately afterward. The guide returns you to the subway station or can help you arrange a taxi at the end.

A small group makes the tasting easier

The tour is designed for a small group of eight or fewer in the stated itinerary, with a maximum of 15 people. That is a meaningful difference from a large coach outing.

Tea tasting works better when you can see the preparation and ask about what you are drinking. A smaller group also makes shared food less awkward, since everyone can take part in choosing and passing dishes. The exact group size can vary, so the maximum of 15 is the safer number to use when deciding what to expect.

The tour suits solo visitors, couples, and families who want a guided introduction rather than a private food itinerary. A child rate applies only when the child shares with two paying adults. Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Meeting at Wanzi Subway Station

The stated meeting point is Beijing’s Wanzi Subway Station on Line 7. One part of the tour information gives Exit C, while the itinerary gives Exit D. That is a small detail with a big practical effect in a busy city.

Before you leave, confirm the correct exit with the operator, Lily’s Tour Company. Do not assume the two references mean the same street corner. Arriving at the wrong exit could cost you time, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.

The subway meeting point is a sensible choice. It avoids the confusion of finding a particular hotel lobby and gives you a clear public location. The tour ends back at the meeting point, with help available for a taxi if you need one.

What the $99 price really covers

At $99 per person, this is not a bargain snack tour. You are paying for a guide, the tea ceremony, eight tea tastings, the meal, local taxes, and the convenience of combining the market and food stops in one organized visit.

The value depends on how much guidance you want. If you are comfortable navigating tea shops, ordering dimsum, and comparing teas on your own, you could spend less by visiting Maliandao independently. You would then need to arrange the tasting, manage communication, choose a restaurant, and decide which shops are worth your time.

I see the price as easier to justify for a first visit to Beijing or for anyone who wants help making sense of Chinese tea. The meal is included, and the guide handles the movement between stops. A small group also gives you a more personal setup than a standard sightseeing bus.

The tour may be less appealing if your main goal is to buy a large amount of tea at the lowest possible price. In that case, the included meal and guiding add cost you may not need. It is better suited to an introduction than to serious tea purchasing.

Who will enjoy this three-hour outing

I would recommend this experience to you if you like food markets, shared meals, and learning by tasting. It is particularly useful if you want a cultural activity that does not take a full day and does not require a long trip outside central Beijing.

It also suits people who feel uncertain about ordering dimsum. Having a guide at the table can help you understand the dishes and make the meal less of a guessing game. The food is shared, so it is best for people open to trying several items.

Vegetarians should request the available option at booking. The standard food list includes seafood and meat, and the meal is not presented as vegetarian by default.

Tea collectors may enjoy the two-shop visits, but the tour should not be treated as a private buying consultation. The supplied details do not promise a set amount of shopping time or a specific tea purchase. You are there to taste, learn, and look around, with buying left to your own choice.

Practical details before you book

The tour runs in the morning or afternoon and lasts about three hours. Confirmation is provided at booking, and mobile tickets are available.

The activity has free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, so keep your plans firm once you are inside that window.

The experience is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Group discounts may be available, though the exact terms are not provided. Since the meeting point information names two different Wanzi exits, confirm that detail along with your booking time.

Should you book the Maliandao tea and dimsum tour?

Book it if you want a compact introduction to Chinese tea and dimsum, prefer a guide at the table, and value the ease of having the tasting and meal arranged together. The most praised elements are the peaceful tea ceremony, the wide range of teas, and the filling food, with Renny noted as a warm and helpful guide.

Skip it if you are focused only on low-cost dining or serious tea shopping. You can likely spend less on your own, but you will give up the structure and guidance.

For many visitors, the best reason to book is the pairing: eight teas in a working tea market, followed by a generous dimsum meal. Just confirm Wanzi Exit C or D before you go, and request a vegetarian meal in advance if needed.

FAQ

How long does the tea and dimsum tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

What start times are available?

You can choose a 10:00 a.m. morning tour or a 3:00 p.m. afternoon tour.

How many teas will I taste?

The tour includes tastings of eight different kinds of tea. Varieties listed include green, oolong, black, puer, and white tea.

What food is included?

Dimsum is included. Possible dishes include steamed soup buns, steamed vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and other items.

Where does the tour meet?

The tour meets near Wanzi Subway Station on Beijing Subway Line 7. The information gives both Exit C and Exit D, so confirm the correct exit with Lily’s Tour Company before departure.

Is a vegetarian option available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you should request it when booking.