Top Eastern China Food & Drink Classes

This is not just a tea tasting. This 2.5-hour premium workshop, set in a serene upscale tea house in very central Shanghai, offers a unique & systematic deep dive into Chinese tea. We blend science (the “why” behind the flavors) with culture (history and philosophy), culminating in a hands-on session where you master the art of brewing your own cup. It's the most insightful and engaging way to understand tea in Shanghai.

Eating is one of the great pleasures of visiting China. Learn how to take the experience back home with you in this private dim sum cooking class in Shanghai's French Concession. Under your instructor's guidance, gain a deeper understanding of flavors and techniques as you learn how to make your choice of two bite-size treats, including dumplings, egg rolls, and desserts.

Learn to make Shanghai’s signature dumpling, xiao long bao, in this cooking class in Shanghai. These are called soup dumplings, because they have a broth inside the dumpling itself. Your teacher will be a passionate foodie, who will show you the technique involved. You’ll make some yourself, and cook them two ways. At the end, eat them together, and leave with a full belly and the recipe.

This is not your average food tour. With Team Mercato, you’ll explore China’s culinary soul with local experts who’ve worked as chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and F&B pros in top restaurants across the country. Whether it’s sipping tea in a quiet courtyard or tasting spicy skewers in a buzzing night market, we tailor every experience to your tastes, comfort, and curiosity. We don’t just feed you—we translate culture, spark conversations, and share the kind of local secrets only insiders know.

- Shop like a local: Explore a real wet market and pick your own ingredients, just like Chinese home cooks do every day - Discover Chinese food culture: Learn about unique local ingredients, seasonal eating, and the philosophy behind everyday Chinese meals - Cook authentic home-style dishes: We teach what Chinese people actually eat at home — not just restaurant version - Truly hands-on: Chop, stir, fry, taste — you do every step yourself, guided with care - Understand flavors, not just follow recipes: Learn the meaning behind ingredients and techniques - Immersive & intimate: It’s personal, local, and real — like being welcomed into someone’s kitchen, not a tourist class - Cultural connection through food: Leave with a full belly and a deeper understanding of Chinese daily life

Follow one of the most experienced teacher to do Chinese Tea Ceremony and play 3000-year-old Chinese musical instrument Guqin. You will not only taste different kinds of tea, but also do Tea ceremony by yourself. Then followed by learning how to play Guqin. The Guqin is a seven-stringed zither with a long slightly curved body, known for its ethereal and serene sound. In 1977, a classical Guqin music has been recorded and send it to space by American space shuttle. Your teacher will be very patient to show you different skills for playing Guqin. Join us for this special and unforgettable culture experience while you are in Shanghai. Hotel pick-up is included.

Experience Shanghai authentic private tour of cooking traditonal food of Chinse dumplings and visit the oldest Temple in Shangha for half day with our local guide!

This journey offers a carefully curated immersion where the aroma of ancient tea blends with the architectural legacy of international concessions—a multi-sensory exploration of how Hankou’s tea trade shaped global history. Begin your journey where Hankou’s tea legacy touched the world. This experience symbolizes the convergence of Chinese tea culture and European demand. Muse Art Gallery, Yunlee Banking Corporation (Built 1946). Step into a repurposed bank vault that once secured fortunes from the tea trade. Located in the former British Concession, this space embodies the financial power that supported Hankou’s global commerce. Today, it fuses historical finance with contemporary art. Explore Hankou’s earliest luxury apartments. This mansion—nestled near the old Russian Concession—stands as a monument to the wealth and cultural exchange generated by the tea trade. Its architecture reflects the opulence and foreign influence that once dominated Hankou’s landscape.

Explore a Local Market: Dive into a bustling Shanghai wet market and discover fresh, seasonal ingredients. ‍ Hands-On Cooking Class: Learn to cook 4 traditional Chinese dishes (2 meat, 2 veg) with a skilled local chef. Enjoy Your Creations: Savor a delicious meal of the dishes you’ve prepared, paired with rice or noodles. Chinese Tea Tasting: Relax with a cultural tea session and learn about China’s rich tea traditions. Take Home Recipes: Impress friends and family with your new skills and authentic recipes!

Master the culinary secrets of China in a hands-on cooking class that takes place in the heart of Shanghai. Learn to prepare iconic dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken and delightful Shepherd's Purse Wonton, all while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of a local kitchen. This immersive experience offers not just cooking skills but a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine!

Highlights Systematic introduction to China’s six major tea categories Guided tasting of 4 different Chinese teas Learn how tea processing shapes flavor and character Small-group setting for a more personal experience Includes Chinese tea snacks Ideal for solo travelers and first-time tea learners

Take a private cooking class in the home of your chef-instructor to learn about Chinese cuisine and experience daily life in Shanghai. Start with hotel pickup and a guided market tour that includes samples of popular snacks. Then head to your instructor’s home for a hands-on cooking lesson. Afterward, enjoy a lunch or dinner that you helped to make, accompanied by lively conversation.

This is not a commercial tour or a large group activity.Instead, we offer an authentic, hands-on tea experience designed for curious travelers who value depth, culture, and connection. You'll be welcomed into a real family-run tea workshop in the Longjing tea-growing area. This immersive 3-hour experience is led by skilled tea artisans, not guides reading from a script. Here, you’ll learn about China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage by doing. Group sizes are kept small to preserve the quality and intimacy of the workshop, ensuring every guest can personally engage with the hand-frying process and the deep traditions behind it. The small group lets you ask questions freely and chat with local families while working together. This is an exclusive, slow-paced cultural journey you won't find anywhere else. Through their stories, you’ll see how tea connects to Chinese life — from daily meals to how people live in harmony with nature.

A slow, hands-on introduction to Chinese culture where you learn by doing. Small groups, personal guidance, and a peaceful setting inside a vegetarian restaurant make this a relaxed and authentic experience.

Simple, meditative, and deeply traditional, this experience offers insight into everyday Chinese folk art through careful handwork and thoughtful design, guided in a small, relaxed group.

Enjoy drinks and socialize at top spots. Discover the Shanghai nightlife that earned the highest praise. Experience the bars and crowds that make our reviews unbeatable. Your epic night starts here! Experience the vibrant nightlife of Shanghai on a guided pub crawl. Meet new friends as you explore the city’s top bars and clubs. Enjoy a night of fun, drinks, and dancing in one of the world’s most exciting cities. This pub crawl features loads of fun and lots of interesting talks with fellow travelers and locals, while having opportunity to enjoy a variety of drinks in our hand-picked highly-rated bars (all with unique & distinctive ambiance) in Shanghai. The tour size is purposefully kept small so your local guide will be able to pay attention to every participant's interest and need, and always make sure everyone highly engaged and have chance chat with your local guide, have fun with other participants and mingle with local bar visitors.

Explore the rich tapestry of Chinese tea culture during a captivating 2-hour session in Shanghai. Engage in a traditional Gongfu tea ceremony that reveals the artistry behind tea preparation, and master the brewing technique using a Gaiwan. Taste and appreciate four premium teas, from delicate white to robust oolong, while discovering how different years、 terroirs and manufacturing process influence flavor. This experience is perfect for travelers eager to deepen their understanding of this ancient tradition and elevate their tea appreciation. More importantly, fully immerse yourself in the joy brought by high-quality Chinese tea.

Highlights of the Experience: · Led by a local, certified, fun, English-speaking master chef · Explore a vibrant wet market to immerse yourself in local freshness · Master the art of making two types of traditional Chinese dumplings · Unveil the secrets of stir-frying technique with a fiery Chinese wok · Learn to prepare two iconic Chinese dishes with special stories behind · Discover the mysteries behind traditional Chinese dressings and sauces · Have a delightful Chinese tea tasting to perfectly pair with your meal · Enjoy complimentary soft drinks and beer (and Chinese liquor if you are keen!) · Leave with exclusive recipes and surprise gifts as memorable takeaways · And more！

Enjoy an immersive cultural experience in Shanghai that brings together two of China’s most beloved traditions: handmade dumplings and authentic tea tasting. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn to make one type of traditional Chinese dim sum—Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), Boiled Dumplings, or Pan-fried Dumplings—followed by a guided tasting of all six major Chinese tea categories. Ideal for travelers seeking a meaningful cultural activity, this experience combines cooking, tasting, storytelling, and cross-cultural interaction.

Welcome to the Warm Home of Shanghai！ Join an immersive dumpling-making experience, enjoy Chinese cuisine, forge cultural connections and receive free travel guidance of Shanghai and surrounding. Craft Your Own Dumplings, under the guidance of a passionate Shanghai homemaker, you'll roll out dough, shape wrappers, and mix fillings to create your very own delicious dumplings. Each dumpling carries our welcome and blessings, making you feel at home even in a foreign land. Cultural Exchange, Lifelong Friendship ‍‍‍ During this experience, you're not just a tourist but a part of our family. We look forward to sharing our stories with you, learning about your cultural background, and together building a bridge of friendship.

This tea tour immerses yourself in the rich tradition of Chinese tea with an exclusive Chinese Tea Culture Experience. The venue is located in the heart of Shanghai's French Concession, close to Tianzifang. Why Choose Our Chinese Tea Tour? 1. Discover Authentic Chinese Traditions – Go beyond drinking tea and uncover the deep history, philosophy, and artistry behind Chinese tea culture. 2. Gain Hands-on Skills – Experience three authentic brewing styles, from Song Dynasty tea whisking to traditional Chinese tea ceremony, and take these timeless skills home. 3. Learn from a Tea Expert – Gain insights from a professional tea master with over 10 years of experience in tea selection and evaluation. This experience is ideal for tea lovers, culture seekers, and anyone looking to slow down and connect with China’s rich heritage in a memorable way.

Wan Ling will share her unique experiences of sourcing the teas you will enjoy during the experience. As we know the exact provenance of each of the teas, we can share about each tea's journey from field to cup, as well as give you an insight into the people and places behind the teas. Our tea house provides a calm and relaxing space, which allows you to focus on enjoying the tea and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese tea and tea culture. You are encouraged to engage and ask any questions you have, so we hope that you will feel confident when talking and enjoying tea in the future.

In this interactive cooking class, you'll receive hands-on training from Dim Sum Chef Yin, a local expert in Chinese cuisine. You'll master the traditional techniques for making Beef Curry Sheng Jian Bao, including preparing juicy filling, kneading dough, and creating perfect wrappers. You’ll also learn how to pan-fry these buns to get a crispy, golden bottom—a signature trait of this dish. Throughout the class, you'll discover the rich history of Sheng Jian Bao and its connection to Shanghai's food culture. We also introduce you to authentic Chinese tea, which you’ll enjoy alongside your freshly made buns. This class is perfect for food lovers eager to learn new cooking skills they can recreate at home. Vegetarians are welcome—please inform us in advance of any dietary preferences, and we'll do our best to accommodate.