Besides all the places of interest, the teahouse, Beijing's ancient residential courtyards and the "Hutong" (small traditional residential alleys solely in Beijing) scattered in the city are most worthwhile things to visit, if you wish to know the real local lives and social customs here in Beijing, China.

Many teahouses are located in Beijing's typical traditional courtyards and hutong areas, just outside the east gate of the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum) and adjacent to Wangfujing Shopping Street, north east of the Tian'anmen Square, providing a resting and refreshing place for travelers coming afar to experience local Chinese lives and traditions back in a alley.

Not being large in size but neat both in configuration and interior decoration, the teahouses serve a large variety of teas from green tea to black tea, along with local delicacies and deserts. One may come in the early morning or in the afternoon and order a pot of tea served in the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony style ("Cha Dao"), chat and enjoy the unique Chinese music at the same time, until it closes late at night. Refills are always free of charge as long as the cup is left open.

(China.org.cn August 3, 2011)

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