Shanghai Tea Ceremony & Tang Dynasty Banquet with Private Guide

An ancient drinking game along a winding stream, performed exactly as Tang Dynasty nobles played it.

This five-hour activity in Shanghai pairs a traditional tea ceremony performance (including the historic "Qu Shui Liu Shang" drinking game) with an imperial Tang Dynasty banquet featuring live music and dance. A private guide meets you at your hotel at either 11 a.m. or 4 p.m., accompanies you throughout, and returns you at the end. Private transportation is included. The tea ceremony offers unlimited servings of seven varieties of tea plus one tea cake, and the banquet recreates royal court dining with period performances.

The experience

What sets this apart is the "Qu Shui Liu Shang" experience at M50 Creative Park: a centuries-old ritual where participants drink tea according to rules tied to a game played along a winding stream, just as it was performed in ancient courts. You're not watching a demonstration. You're participating in the ceremony itself, guided through the etiquette and the seven teas that accompany it. The private guide explains the cultural roots of each step, making the ritual legible rather than ornamental.

After the tea ceremony, the evening shifts to the Tang Dynasty banquet venue, where the setting and the meal both aim to recreate imperial dining. The menu draws on historical royal recipes, and throughout the meal, musicians and dancers perform pieces from the Tang era: instrumental music, court dances, the full sensory apparatus of a royal court. The performance runs continuously, so you're eating and watching at once, the two experiences layered rather than separated.

Your private guide handles the logistics: hotel pickup at your chosen time (11 a.m. or 4 p.m.), the drive to M50 Creative Park, the transition to the banquet venue, and the return to your hotel when the evening concludes. The five-hour window accounts for the ceremony, the meal, the performances, and travel time between venues. If you have dietary requirements, you can note them at booking so the banquet kitchen can adjust the menu.

What’s included

• Private transportation from and to your hotel.
• personal guide in English or Chinese.
• "Qu Shui Liu Shang" traditional tea ceremony with unlimited servings of seven varieties of tea and one tea cake.
• Tang Dynasty royal dinner banquet with live music and dance performances.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 17:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Shanghai Advisor Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the 11 a.m. start if you want the tea ceremony in daylight and the banquet in the evening. Choose 4 p.m. if you prefer to keep the entire experience after lunch. The private guide and dedicated car mean you move at your own pace between the two venues without coordinating with a group or waiting for a shared shuttle.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is the "Qu Shui Liu Shang" tea ceremony I'll be doing?

"Qu Shui Liu Shang" is an ancient Chinese drinking game played along a winding stream, where participants drink tea according to rules tied to the game's flow. At M50 Creative Park, you participate in this ritual as it was performed in Tang Dynasty courts, tasting seven different varieties of tea plus one tea cake while learning the cultural significance of each step.

What time does this activity start, and can I choose?

Your personal guide meets you in your hotel lobby at either 11 a.m. or 4 p.m., whichever you prefer at booking. The five-hour experience runs from that start time through the tea ceremony, the banquet, and your return to the hotel.

Is the Tang Dynasty banquet meal included, or do I pay separately?

The imperial Tang Dynasty dinner banquet is included in the activity price. You'll dine on royal-style dishes while watching live Tang Dynasty music and dance performances throughout the meal. If you have dietary requirements, notify the operator at booking.

How do I get to the tea ceremony and the banquet? Do I need to arrange transport?

Private transportation is included throughout. Your guide picks you up at your hotel, drives you to M50 Creative Park for the tea ceremony, then to the banquet venue, and returns you to your hotel at the end of the evening.