Nickname: The No.1 Teahouse on the Sea / Shanghai’s oldest existing teahouse
Location: Central pond of Yu Garden, Huangpu District, downtown Shanghai, connected by the iconic Nine-Turn Zigzag Bridge
1. History Timeline
Ming Dynasty (Jiajing Period): Originally built as Fuyi Pavilion, a viewing pavilion inside private Yu Garden.
1784 (Qing Qianlong Era): Rebuilt by local cloth merchants into Huxinting, used as a guild office for cloth traders.
1855 (Qing Xianfeng Era): Officially transformed into a commercial teahouse and has operated continuously ever since, with a tea-running history of over 170 years and a building history of more than 240 years.
It is a protected cultural relic of Shanghai, receiving Queen Elizabeth II, state leaders from various countries and literary masters including Ba Jin, Cao Yu and Guo Moruo.
2. Architectural Features
Floating on water with stilt foundations; a pure mortise-and-tenon wooden structure without a single iron nail, representative of traditional Chinese ancient craftsmanship.
Two-storey pentagonal pavilion, black curved upturned eaves + vermilion wooden window frames, classic Jiangnan garden architectural style.
The zigzag bridge leading to it follows old folklore: evil spirits only travel in straight lines, so the winding path blocks bad luck.
Its classic waterside silhouette is the prototype of the famous Western Blue Willow porcelain pattern worldwide.
3. Tea Experience & Culture
Tea choices: Premium Chinese teas (Longjing, Biluochun, Dahongpao etc.), classic traditional tea sets and trendy new Chinese tea drinks for young visitors.
Traditional performances: Jiangnan Pingtan storytelling and silk string music are regularly staged inside the teahouse.
Special snacks: Tea eggs, osmanthus pastries and classic Shanghai dim sum match perfectly with tea tasting.
Layout difference: The ground floor keeps affordable morning tea for local senior regulars; the second floor offers high-end themed tea spaces with preserved historic seats for celebrities.
4. Practical Info
Address: No.257 Yuyuan Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Opening Hours: 8:30 – 21:00
Transport: Metro Line 10 / Line 14 → Yu Garden Station
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