Eight teas, one calm tea-street morning. I like the small-group pace and the way your guide takes you through eight distinct teas with a tea-ceremony vibe. The only catch: dim sum can get adventurous, with items like chicken feet, so go in with an open mind.

This tour is built around Maliandao Street, Beijing’s classic tea-and-food corridor, and it keeps things practical: you start near the subway and you end back where you can easily head onward. On some departures, guides like Renny are known for warm, helpful energy and for keeping the tasting relaxed instead of rushed.

You’ll have about three hours total, with either a morning or afternoon slot (the schedule includes 10:00am or 15:00pm). I also appreciate that a vegetarian option is available if you request it ahead of time.

Key things to know before you go

• Eight tea tastings in one guided session, with a formal tea-ceremony component included
• Lunch built in: sit down to dim sum featuring soup buns, vermicelli rolls, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more
• Small group size (max 15; you’ll meet up with the group of 8 or fewer) for less waiting and more attention
• Two tea shops on Maliandao Street, including one described as tied to a real tea farm
• Easy subway start on Line 7 at Wanzi (the details reference Wanzi Exit C or D) and help getting back by subway or taxi

Meeting Wanzi on Line 7, then stepping into Maliandao Tea Street

The first win here is how gettable it is. Your tour begins near the Line 7 Wanzi subway area, with the meeting directions pointing you to Wanzi Exit C or Wanzi Exit D. Because the exit letter can vary by departure details, I’d treat your confirmation notes as the source for the exact exit.

Once you meet your guide and small group, the experience stays uncomplicated. You’re not dragged across the city. You’re not solving a puzzle with buses or multiple transfers. In practice, that means you can show up, find your group fast, and get to the good part: tea.

From there, the plan is straightforward. You’ll first focus on tea tasting, then move into a nearby tea restaurant for dim sum, and finally stroll along Maliandao Street to visit tea shops. At the end, your guide either sends you back to the subway or helps you get a taxi, which saves you that last-stretch scramble when your feet are already tired.

One more small practical note: this is a food-and-tea tour, not a long walking tour. It’s designed to be comfortable, with enough structure that you know what happens next without constantly checking your phone.

Tea ceremony and tasting eight kinds of tea without the guesswork

The heart of this tour is the tea lesson plus the tasting. You get a tea ceremony included, and your guide helps you taste eight different teas. The tour focuses on the kinds of tea you’ll actually hear about in China, including green tea, oolong tea, black tea, pu-erh tea, and white tea.

What I like about this format is that it’s not just sampling for the sake of it. The guide is there to help you notice differences while you’re still fresh and curious. When you’re tasting multiple categories back-to-back, your own palate gets better at recognizing changes in aroma and flavor. That’s where a good guide earns their spot: they can point out what to pay attention to before the tea starts to blur together.

This also helps if you’re not a self-proclaimed tea nerd. You don’t need prior knowledge. You just need curiosity and a willingness to taste. The tour keeps the tasting portion compact enough that you’re still energized for lunch afterward.

A practical tip: pace yourself with each tea. If you power through too fast, the later cups won’t land as clearly. Take a breath between tastings, and let your senses reset. Tea is subtle. Speed kills subtle.

And if you’re someone who hates repeating the same flavor? Good news. The variety here is the point. By the time you reach the darker or more fermented-style teas (like pu-erh), you’ll already have a reference point from earlier in the tasting.

Dim sum lunch: soup buns, vermicelli rolls, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more

After the tea, you head to an authentic tea restaurant nearby for dim sum. This is a real meal, not just a snack. You’ll eat a selection that includes steamed soup buns, steamed vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more.

This is where the tour becomes memorable, because dim sum is a whole experience on its own. Steamed items tend to be light and focused, and tasting multiple styles in one sitting lets you compare textures: soft vs. chewy, delicate vs. filling, and mild vs. bolder flavors. It’s also a good way to try foods you might skip if you were ordering alone.

I’ll be honest: chicken feet are part of the set. If you’re squeamish, you’ll have a tough time forcing yourself through it. But the advantage of a structured tour is that you can try a bite while you’re still in the “adventure mode” created by the tea lesson—then decide how you want to continue without feeling stranded.

The tour also includes lunch/dinner dim sum as part of the package. On at least some departures, the meal has included pork dumplings and hand-pulled noodles alongside classic dim sum items. So even if you’re picturing only one style of dim sum, you may get a broader spread.

If you have dietary needs, you’re covered. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at booking. That matters here because dim sum menus can vary a lot. Requesting ahead is your best bet for a meal that actually fits.

Practical eating advice: go in ready for a seated meal that may be served in courses or shared-style portions. Keep water handy and don’t feel pressured to finish everything on the table—if you want to taste more, take smaller bites.

Tea trading stroll: two tea shops and a clearer sense of what you’re buying

After you eat, you shift gears from tasting to browsing. The tour includes a stroll to a tea trading street and market connected with traditional tea commerce, and then you stop at two different tea shops.

The point here isn’t only shopping. It’s seeing tea as a product with categories, reputations, and real sourcing. One of the shops is described as one that has a real tea farm, and the tasting stops help connect what you just tasted to what vendors are selling.

This is where you’ll likely notice why the earlier tea session matters. Green tea tends to feel lighter and fresher. Oolong can shift between floral and roasted notes depending on how it’s processed. Black tea and pu-erh can feel heavier and deeper. White tea often comes across as gentle and subtle. The tour doesn’t require you to memorize anything. But after your eight-tea tasting, you’ll have a personal baseline for what each category tastes like.

What to do in the shops: ask your guide what differences they expect you to notice. If you’re interested in buying, take your time. Vendors can be persuasive, but your own memory of the tasting is your best negotiating tool. If you hated one tea earlier, don’t let shop talk talk you into it.

Also, don’t underestimate the value of “seeing two shops.” One shop is a snapshot. Two shops are a comparison. You’ll walk away with a more realistic sense of what pricing and selection look like across vendors on the same street.

Finally, the end of the walk is handled for you. Your guide sends you back to the subway or helps with a taxi, so the tour doesn’t leave you hanging with “good luck” after the food and tea.

Price and value: what $99 buys you in a tight 3-hour window

At $99 per person for about three hours, this tour looks simple on paper. But the value comes from stacking several things you’d otherwise piece together yourself:

• Tea ceremony plus guided tasting of eight teas
• A full dim sum meal included
• A professional guide to interpret what you’re tasting and eating
• Local taxes included
• Small group size, which tends to improve Q&A and pacing

If you were to do this independently, you’d still pay for tea tastings or drinks, plus a guided explanation if you cared about understanding differences. You’d also need to find the right lunch spot and manage your own timing. Here, the tour is doing the coordination for you in a small-group format.

Another subtle value factor: the meeting point is straightforward. Starting near Line 7 Wanzi cuts down on wasted time and stress. That’s not glamorous, but it’s real money in a short tour. The afternoon option also helps if you want to pair this with other plans later in the day.

So, is it “cheap”? No. But it’s not overpriced for what’s included. You’re paying for education (tea tasting), experience (ceremony and comparison), and convenience (meal + guide + return to subway).

Who this fits best (and who should think twice)

This is ideal if you:

• Love food + drink experiences and want a structured tasting instead of guessing on your own
• Want to try a range of teas—green, oolong, black, pu-erh, white—with a guide explaining what you’re noticing
• Prefer a small-group plan with an easy start near the subway
• Are open to trying classic dim sum items, including ones that can feel bold for first-timers

Think twice if you:

• Are strongly put off by adventurous dim sum like chicken feet
• Want a tour that’s purely sightseeing and photo stops (this is more about tasting and eating than landmarks)
• Have complex dietary needs beyond what can be handled by the vegetarian option (you’ll want to confirm details at booking)

If you’re traveling solo, a small group can actually be a plus. You’ll still get the guide’s attention, but you’re not eating dim sum alone while trying to decode menus.

Should you book this tea and dim sum tour on Maliandao Street?

I’d book it if you want a focused, low-stress taste of Beijing tea culture and dim sum in one go. The structure is the selling point: eight teas, a tea ceremony, then a dim sum meal, then tea shop comparisons on the same street. In three hours, you get multiple “mini-experiences” that stack into something memorable.

Skip it (or choose cautiously) if you’re picky about what goes on your plate. Dim sum includes items like chicken feet, and the tour is built around offering variety, not tailoring every bite.

If you’re undecided, here’s my practical checklist: are you okay tasting more than one tea and eating a proper sit-down dim sum lunch? If yes, this tour is a solid value and a genuinely fun way to experience Maliandao Street without wasting time figuring it out yourself.

FAQ

How long is the tea and dim sum tour?

It runs for about 3 hours.

Is there a choice between a morning and afternoon tour?

Yes. You can choose a morning or an afternoon departure, with options listed for 10:00am or 15:00pm.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $99.00 per person.

What’s included in the price?

Tea tasting includes 8 different teas and a tea ceremony. A dim sum lunch is also included, along with local taxes and a professional guide.

How many teas will I taste?

You’ll taste eight different kinds of tea.

What dim sum dishes are included?

The menu includes steamed soup buns, steamed vermicelli rolls, chicken feet, shrimp ravioli, spring rolls, and more.

Can I get a vegetarian meal?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at the time of booking.

Where do I meet the guide?

You meet near the subway on Line 7 at Wanzi, with directions referencing Wanzi Exit C or Wanzi Exit D.

Is the tour limited to a small group?

Yes. Maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.