Tea Drinking Wenshu Temple

Strawberries and cream, a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, pescaito frito and a glass of cold dry sherry. And then there is Chengdu and it’s teahouses. There are just somethings that are marriages made in heaven.

pouring tea at the Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

Life is good: Drinking Tea

Tea drinking in the Wenshu Temple 文殊院 is a ‘Must‘ for any visitor to Chengdu 成都.

Not so long ago; depends what you mean by long; 1989, when we first visited Chengdu, the city’s downtown streets were lined with rickety teahouses jam-packed with locals lounging on wicker chairs, chatting, playing mahjong and drinking tea. Above them hung their caged birds, brought along for extra company in the same way a dog is taken for a walk.

People drinking tea and relaxing at the Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

Unfortunatetly, as Chengdu rapidily modernised, most of roadside teahouses fell victims to the wrecking ball and disappeared, especially from downtown Chengdu. But scratch beneath the suface and many remnants of Chengdu’s teahouse culture can still be found alive and flourishing.

Old teapots Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

Chengdu’s Wenshu temple 文殊院

Welcome to Chengdu’s Wenshu temple 文殊院 one of the best getaways from an ever more frenetic, burgeoning mega-city. It’s a place to forget the city noise and choking fumes, and instead catch up on local gossip or just chill for a few hours.

People drinking tea and relaxing at the Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

Having your ears cleaned or nails treated comes part and parcel with the whole experience; Covid 19 permitting!

A cup of tea at Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

Other recommended places in Chengdu to share a similar experience are the He Ming Teahouse 鹤鸣茶馆 in Renmin Park人民公园 and the peaceful Qingyang Taoist Temple 青羊宫

People drinking tea and relaxing at the Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都
Wenshu temple 文殊院, Chengdu 成都

These photos were taken on barmy August afternoon in the Wenshu Temple, Chengdu.

Are you looking for small traditional villages not far from Chengdu where Sichuan teahouse culture still survives: I would recommend the village below Luocheng. However, it is easier to reach Luocheng from Leshan rather than Chengdu.

Click below:

For a more an authentic teahouse town try Luocheng in Sichuan

Luocheng Map

Author: Adam

My name is Adam. I have a degree in Chinese History from SOAS and a masters in International Politics focused on China from the same university. I have travelled around China 9 times and since 2000 I have travelled every year for two months. I guess I kind of like the place!

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