Located inside Taishan Park in Hailing district, Taizhou, Jiangsu province, Leicuiyuan Teahouse has quickly become a popular local dining spot by pairing authentic Taizhou morning tea culture with the artistry of Yang-school bonsai.
Opened just six months ago, the restaurant seamlessly integrates traditional garden architecture with the city's rich intangible cultural heritage. Guests can dine in courtyard settings surrounded by over 300 miniature bonsai displays, enjoying classic delicacies after morning exercises in the park.
Diners enjoy morning tea in the courtyard of Leicuiyuan Teahouse, surrounded by exquisite Yang-school bonsai displays. [Photo/WeChat account: weihailing0523]
Leicuiyuan's menu features freshly prepared traditional dishes. Highlights include fine shredded tofu soaked in shrimp-roe sesame oil, slow-simmered fish soup noodles, and rich crab-roe buns. Other popular offerings include paper-thin steamed dumplings, fresh wild-herb buns, and crystal jellied pork served with vinegar and ginger.
Freshly steamed crab-roe buns send up hot steam. [Photo/WeChat account: weihailing0523]
According to Ma Weiwei, head of Leicuiyuan, both bonsai training and morning tea preparation require years of patience and meticulous skill. By bringing these two heritage art forms out of museum halls and into an everyday dining environment, the teahouse aims to make traditional culture more accessible to the public while attracting broader visitors to the neighboring Taizhou Bonsai Garden.
The venue caters to both local residents seeking a relaxing breakfast and tourists looking for an authentic cultural experience, reflecting the unhurried morning lifestyle of Taizhou.