Most traditional Sichuan teahouses are on the fringes of Chengdu and even further out in the countryside in Wenjiang, Shuangliu and Dayi counties and nearby Ya'An in Hong Ya and Gao Miao.
In Chengdu, there are still a few spots to drink tea that combine the traditional atmosphere with beauty and style, such as the Heming teahouse in the People's Park.
This teahouse is crowded most weekends with card-playing Sichuanese and a scattering of performers and artisans selling their services, including palm-reading.
The Yuelai teahouse is a centre for Sichuan opera, and has been so for almost 100 years. During the week, entertainers and singers take the stage while full-scale Sichuan opera troupes wow audiences on weekends.
Both the Wu Hou Zi and Wen Shu Yuan temples house serene teahouses where one can contemplate the exploits of Sichuan's most famous schemer, Zhu Ge Liang, or China's most serene addition to the world's religions, Zen Buddhism.
At the Badiao Teahouse in south Chengdu, one can enjoy a variety of Sichuan specialities. In the Huang Cheng Lao Ma building, the teahouse is attached to the Hot Pot Restaurant.
