3-hour Morning/Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street & Dimsum

Tea and dim sum make a fine Beijing pairing. This three-hour outing takes you to Maliandao Tea Street, where you can taste eight kinds of Chinese tea, watch a traditional tea ceremony, and sample a generous dim sum meal nearby. I like the easy subway meeting point and the small-group format, which keeps the experience more personal than a large food tour.

I also like that you can choose a 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. start, making this easy to fit around sightseeing. The main consideration is the $99 price, which is fair if you value a guide, a tea ceremony, eight tastings, and a full meal, but high if you only want a quick cup of tea and a snack.

What makes this Beijing food tour worth your time

• Eight kinds of Chinese tea: Taste green, oolong, black, puer, white, and other teas in dedicated tea shops.
• Maliandao Tea Street: Visit Beijing’s largest tea trading street and see a major center of the city’s tea business.
• A full dim sum meal: Expect steamed soup buns, vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more.
• A small group setting: The group is described as eight or fewer in the meeting details, with a maximum of 15 people.
• Two useful start times: Choose a morning tour at 10:00 a.m. or an afternoon tour at 3:00 p.m.
• Guide help at the end: Your guide can return you to the subway station or help you find a taxi.

Starting at Wanzi Station

The tour begins at Beijing Subway Line 7’s Wanzi Station, Exit D in the itinerary details. One part of the tour information also refers to Exit C, so I would confirm the exact exit with the provider before you set out. That small detail matters in Beijing, where a station may have several exits and the wrong one can add needless walking.

The meeting point is useful because it removes the guesswork of finding a tea shop inside a large commercial district. You meet your guide at the station, then travel together to Maliandao Tea Street. The area is near public transportation, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

You can choose between a 10:00 a.m. start and a 3:00 p.m. start. The morning option works well if you want tea and dim sum before an afternoon of sightseeing. The afternoon option may fit better after a morning at the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, or another Beijing sight, though you should allow enough time to reach Wanzi Station.

The tour lasts about three hours. That is long enough for a proper tasting and meal without taking up your whole day. It is also short enough to fit into a busy Beijing schedule.

Entering Maliandao Tea Street

Maliandao is not simply one tea shop with a tasting counter. It is a major tea trading street and market, with shops selling tea from different parts of China. You get to see the commercial side of tea, including the way tea is displayed, discussed, sampled, and sold.

That setting gives the tasting useful context. You are not only drinking tea in a quiet room with no sense of where it comes from. You are walking through a district built around tea commerce and meeting people connected to that trade.

The experience includes stops at two different tea shops. The shops are selected for tea that comes from real tea farms, according to the tour details. You might see a wide range of leaves and styles, though the exact teas served can vary.

The tour includes green tea, oolong, black tea, puer, white tea, and other varieties. These categories can taste very different, so eight tastings offer a good introduction for anyone who usually orders tea without knowing what kind it is.

I like this part of the tour because it gives you a way to compare teas side by side. Green tea may be lighter and fresher, while puer can be darker and earthier. Oolong sits in a broad middle ground, with styles that may be floral, roasted, or full-bodied. The guide can help explain what you are tasting and how the preparation changes the flavor.

Do not expect a museum visit or a formal lecture about every tea-producing region in China. The emphasis is on tasting and seeing the market. If you want a serious tea course, you may find the three-hour format too brief. If you want a practical introduction, it should be a good fit.

The tea ceremony and eight tastings

The tea ceremony is included in the price, and it forms the heart of the experience. A tea ceremony can show you details that are easy to miss when you simply pour hot water over a teabag: the amount of leaf, the water temperature, the timing, and the way small cups are used.

The ceremony also slows the pace. You are not rushing from shop to shop. You get time to smell, taste, compare, and ask questions. One published account specifically praised the peaceful feeling of the tea tasting, along with the friendly and helpful guidance from Renny.

That personal touch matters. Tea can feel intimidating if you do not know the names or customs. A guide gives you a way into the experience without expecting you to arrive with specialist knowledge.

The selection of eight teas is generous for a three-hour tour. You will not need to buy anything to make the outing worthwhile, since the tastings are included. You can focus on deciding what you actually like instead of treating the visit as a shopping stop.

Still, tea tasting is personal. Some people love comparing small differences between teas. Others may find eight samples too many, especially if they are not regular tea drinkers. Pace yourself and tell the guide if you need a pause.

Personal spending is not included. If you decide to buy tea, teaware, or another item, that cost is yours. The tour’s value does not depend on purchasing something, so you should feel free to treat the shopping element as optional.

A dim sum meal near the tea shops

After the tea tasting, you go to a nearby tea restaurant for dim sum. This is not presented as a light snack. Food for lunch or dinner is included, and the selection is broad enough to give you a proper meal.

The listed dishes include:

• Steamed soup buns
• Steamed vermicelli rolls
• Chicken feet
• Shrimp ravioli
• Spring rolls
• Other dim sum dishes

A separate account also praised pork dumplings and hand-pulled noodles, so the exact dishes may change based on what the restaurant serves that day. You should expect a shared meal rather than a fixed menu that never varies.

Steamed soup buns are a highlight for many people because they combine a soft wrapper, filling, and hot broth. They need care when you eat them. Vermicelli rolls offer a different texture, while shrimp ravioli and spring rolls add variety.

Chicken feet are a traditional dim sum choice, but they are not for everyone. If you prefer familiar food, you can focus on the dumplings, rolls, and spring rolls. If you enjoy trying local dishes, chicken feet give you a chance to order something that may not appear on a standard Western Chinese menu.

The meal makes the tour more useful than a simple tea sampling. You leave having tried two important parts of Chinese food culture in one outing. Tea is not treated as an isolated drink, and dim sum becomes part of a shared social meal.

A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking. The supplied information does not specify which vegetarian dishes are served, so make the request clearly rather than waiting until you sit down.

How the group size affects the experience

The tour is described as a small-group outing. The itinerary refers to a group of eight or fewer, while the maximum listed size is 15 people. That difference means the final number can vary, so I would not assume you will always have eight or fewer people.

Even a group of 15 is manageable for a tea tasting and a restaurant meal. You are less likely to feel lost than on a large coach excursion, and the guide has a better chance to answer questions.

A smaller group also helps during the tea ceremony. You can see the preparation more easily and hear the explanations without relying on a distant microphone. At the restaurant, a group meal gives the outing a social feel, though sharing dishes may be less appealing if you prefer to choose every item yourself.

The guide is part of the value here. The strongest praise in the available feedback focused on Renny’s warm, friendly, and helpful manner. That suggests the experience depends not only on the location and food, but also on having someone who can make the tea tasting comfortable and explain what is happening.

Is $99 a fair price?

At $99 per person, this is not a bargain food stop. You are paying for more than the food and tea. The price includes a professional guide, the tea ceremony, eight tea tastings, dim sum for lunch or dinner, local taxes, and help getting back to the subway or finding a taxi.

I see the value most clearly if you want an organized introduction to Beijing tea culture. You avoid the trouble of choosing among many shops, arranging a ceremony, and finding a restaurant afterward. You also get a guide who connects the tasting to the market around you.

The value is weaker if you already know Maliandao, speak enough Chinese to shop comfortably, or only want to try one or two teas. In that case, the guided format and included meal may be more than you need.

The meal is important when judging the price. You are not paying $99 for eight tiny samples and a short explanation. You also receive dim sum, including several substantial dishes. The exact quantity may vary, but the available feedback describes the food as delicious and filling, with dumplings and hand-pulled noodles included on that occasion.

Group discounts may be available, so check the current price if you are booking for several people. Children receive a special rate only when sharing with two paying adults.

Choosing morning or afternoon

The 10:00 a.m. tour is the natural choice if you want the meal to serve as lunch. It leaves the rest of the day open and may suit you if you prefer to start sightseeing early.

The 3:00 p.m. tour makes the dim sum meal function more like an early dinner. It can fit around a morning attraction, but you should watch your timing because Beijing’s subway system and large sights can take longer than expected.

Neither start time is automatically better. The right choice depends on your day and your appetite. If tea affects your sleep, the morning option may also be more comfortable, though the tour details do not state how much tea you will drink beyond the eight types sampled.

You should arrive with enough time to find the correct station exit. Since the information names both Exit C and Exit D, confirm this point in advance. Your guide can send you back to the station at the end, which is helpful if you are unfamiliar with the neighborhood.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you want a simple, guided way to try several Chinese teas without spending a full day on the subject. It also suits you if food is a main reason for visiting Beijing and you want a meal with dishes beyond the usual fried rice and sweet-and-sour fare.

It is a good match for first-time visitors, couples, families who meet the child-rate conditions, and small groups of friends. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation.

You may want to skip it if you dislike shared meals, have no interest in tea, or want a completely independent shopping experience. The itinerary includes time in tea shops, but buying tea is not required. Personal expenses are separate, so any purchases will add to the cost.

The tour has received a perfect rating from seven submitted reviews, and the most praised points are clear: a peaceful tea ceremony, a friendly guide, and food that leaves you satisfied. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than final proof. Still, the praise points to the parts most likely to make the experience work.

Should you book the Maliandao tea and dim sum tour?

Book it if you want one well-organized outing that combines tea culture, a major tea market, and a full dim sum meal. The small-group setting, two start times, and subway meeting point make it practical, while the eight tastings give you more than a token introduction.

The $99 price makes the most sense when you value guidance and convenience. If you prefer to explore on your own, you may find it expensive. For a curious eater who wants a friendly introduction to Chinese tea and dim sum, this is a worthwhile three-hour addition to a Beijing visit.

FAQ

How long does the tea and dim sum tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins in Beijing near Wanzi Subway Station on Line 7. The itinerary identifies Exit D, while another meeting-point detail identifies Exit C, so confirm the exact exit before arrival.

What start times are available?

You can choose a 10:00 a.m. morning tour or a 3:00 p.m. afternoon tour.

How many teas will I taste?

The tour includes tastings of eight different kinds of tea.

Which types of tea may be included?

The tea selection may include green tea, oolong tea, black tea, puer tea, white tea, and other varieties.

Is a tea ceremony included?

Yes. A traditional tea ceremony is included in the tour price.

What food is included?

Dim sum is included for lunch or dinner. Dishes may include steamed soup buns, steamed vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, pork dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, and other items.

Is a vegetarian option available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you must request it when booking.

Does the tour end at the starting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point. The guide can also help you get a taxi if needed.