China Tea Leaves 北京 Beijing

Beijing welcomes you, to marvel at the greatness of ancient culture, to climb to soaring heights along the Great Wall, to dance and race with memories of the world’s gathering here in 2008. Come along with China Tea Leaves and get lost in a thousand-year-old alley, in the quiet corners of an imperial garden, and in the flavors and mysteries of an ancient capital.


China Tea Leaves 北京 Beijing takes you through the great sights of this capital city, from the vast Tian’anmen Square and endless Forbidden City, to the narrow hutongs where the lives of hipsters and locals harmonize. Dance with grannies in the city’s parks, and follow the emperor’s ceremonies around the imperial altars. Climb the Great Wall, relive the 2008 Olympics, and discover the modern icons of this historic city. Tips for international tourists to China, restaurant and hotel recommendations, and ideas for trip planning will all help make your trip to Beijing one for the ages.


China Tea Leaves 北京 Beijing is over 200 pages of in-depth information, hundreds of full-colour photographs, and eleven hand sketched interactive maps that highlight pictures of each site. Like all China Tea Leaves guides, other features include:

Food – restaurant recommendations and highlights of local dishes. 

Drink – from tea to local pear cider, know the best of that locale 

Chinese poetry specific to the region, in Chinese and English 

Local legends and traditional folklore 

Glossary – learn the Chinese words for each city and region 

Chinese phrasebook – with audio pronunciation guide by a native speaker 

Recommendations on local specialties – what to bring home to your family and friends


We hope China Tea Leaves gives a unique perspective on China, from “foreigners” living in the Middle Kingdom, who have a firsthand experience of this incredible culture. We’re trying to open up a little bit of China to the world, in its puzzles and its charms, to show in colour, story, picture and poem a sense of China that you can’t get from a black and white text.