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Years of research, including many staff trips, went into making the Take Me There:® China exhibit. In this blog series, you'll see how we were inspired by the people, places, and traditions of modern China as we recreated these top ten exhibit highlights. You'll also get a snapshot of what your family will experience in these extraordinary spaces—brought to you straight from our exhibit developers!
In the Tea House, your family can explore the Chinese art of brewing and serving tea (Gong Fu). Gong Fu reflects notions of hospitality and beauty, as well as physical and spiritual health. Tea drinking originated in China thousands of years ago, and tea is still the most popular beverage in China.
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A tea house in Beijing, China.
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The tea house in Take Me There: China.
Take a seat around a tea table and role play serving tea with the help of a video demonstration. See examples from a seasonal tea service, which typically includes a specific kind of tea, teapot, cup, and appropriate flowers or foliage. Teapots and cups come in many different shapes and sizes for use with specific teas. The design and decoration of teaware reflects values such as balance, beauty, and aesthetics.
Discover six categories of Chinese tea, based on color and processing techniques. Learn about the six basic categories of tea (white, green, yellow, oolong, red, and black). Each type of tea demands its own tea set; six special tea sets, one for each type of tea, are on display. Your family can also look at photos of the tea harvesting, read about the processing techniques associated with each kind of tea, and see tea leaves in many different shapes and colors.
Catch up on all of the Take Me There: China Top 10, or read up on staff adventures in China in our Creative Director's blog series: "Ned's Excellent China Adventure," Part 1 and Part 2.
