Top Eastern China Cooking Classes

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

Skip the restaurant and eat at a local family's dining table, in their own home. +1 Chopsticks (加双筷子, "add a pair of chopsticks", what Chinese families say when a friend turns up for dinner) matches you with one of 10 vetted Shanghai host families, based on where you're staying and what you eat. How it goes: 1. Your host meets you at the door of an ordinary apartment or lane house. 2. Tea first, while the last dishes finish. 3. Six or seven dishes plus rice and soup come out of the wok one at a time, shared family-style. Your host explains each one. 4. Stay and talk. Most meals run past two hours. 5. Leave with your host's own tips: the noodle shop they go to, the market worth a morning. Every host cooks their own family's food. The sample menu below is a taste from different tables.

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.

A relaxed, hands-on introduction to Chinese pastry-making where you learn by doing. Small groups, personal guidance, and a peaceful setting make this an enjoyable way to discover traditional techniques. You’ll leave with practical skills and a recipe you can easily recreate at home.

Stroll through lush mountain forests in traditional indigo tea-picking attire. Listen to local masters share the 1,200-year history of Longjing tea and its grading system. Explore an ecological organic tea garden, learn the "pinch-pull" picking technique, identify premium tea buds and pick them by hand to experience the hard-earned "green gold" of this famous tea. **Complimentary 3–5 minute raw drone footage included.** Enter the teahouse and gather around a traditional iron wok. Try hand-firing tea under masters’ guidance and learn the ten core tea-making techniques. Watch fresh leaves transform in the wok as rich roasted tea aroma fills the air. Featured experience: Learn Song Dynasty tea art. Use a tea whisk to create frothy tea foam and draw your favourite patterns or Chinese characters on the tea surface. At the end of the tour, relax on the elegant tea garden terrace. Sip fragrant tea and enjoy unique tea plantation flavours, concluding a complete Jiangnan tea culture journey.

Authentic Flavor, fun hands-on experience. we teach you the real techniques of Chinese cuisine. Our class is fully customizable to your cravings, 100% hands-on, and taught in fluent English. You leave with a delicious meal and the skill to recreate genuine flavors in your home kitchen.

Craft NICH (national intangible cultural heritage)-listed Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, explore ancient gardens and a 1,000-year-old water town, and immerse in Shanghai's culinary heritage and Jiangnan charm. Highlights : - Hands-on Heritage Craft: Roll, fill, and steam your own Xiaolongbao under the guidance from an Intangible Cultural Heritage inheritor. - Immersive Cultural Setting: Craft buns in a traditional Chinese courtyard, surrounded by artifacts of Nanxiang's culinary legacy. - Historic Gardens & Ancient Town: Explore Ming-era Guyi Garden and Nanxiang's 1,000-year-old pagodas, blending history with local charm. - Gourmet Ritual: Savor freshly steamed buns with ginger-infused vinegar, following the local mantra: "Lift gently, move slowly, open a window, sip the broth first". - Stress-Free: All-inclusive: Private transport + meal, with dietary options. Itinerary: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Cultural Hall (Xiaolongbao making)- Guyi Garden-Nanxiang Old Town- Twin Pagodas

We hope that orders can be placed at least 24 hours ahead of the cut-off time, so that we can have more time to prepare and ensure a pleasant experience for you. At noon, we will pick you up and drive you to a Chess and Cards Room to learn mahjong. The activity will last for about four hours. During the activity, our instructor will introduce the basic rules of mahjong and three core moves. Under his guidance, you will quickly get the hang of this game. Then, we will transfer to another location to attend a cooking class, which will last for about three hours. After booking, please leave us a message telling us which food you would like to make during the cooking class so that we can prepare materials accordingly. During the class, a local chef will instruct you to hand-make Chinese foods and introduce their cultural significance, helping you better understand Chinese culture. After the activity, we will drive you back to the original location.

The world of Chinese tea is as complex and nuanced as fine French wine. Whether you’re a seasoned sipper or looking for the perfect souvenir, kickstart your understanding with this in-depth, small-group workshop. Try five different teas paired with traditional nibbles and learn how to prepare them like a pro in a classically elegant tearoom in downtown Shanghai. It’s an enriching encounter with tea’s flavors, cultures, science, and art.

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.

This experience is unique because it combines： - Song Dynasty Tea Whisking (Dian Cha) - Tasting & Brewing different Traditional Chinese Teas - Authentic Chinese Ambiance Unlike standard tea tastings, it offers hands-on brewing, a serene traditional space, and the optional chance to wear Hanfu for a fully immersive experience. It’s a perfect blend of history, flavor, and culture!

Recapture the sophistication and magic of old Shanghai on this unique night tour: a private Chinese banquet in a hidden villa. Begin with a tea ritual accompanied by a private “qin” (zither) performance. Then head into the private dining room to feast on a menu of organic vegetables, fine meat, and seafood chosen while still alive. Your evening includes transfers by premier vehicle: Alcoholic drinks are at your own expense.

Guangfulin Heritage Park Cultural Immersion Tour An Exclusive Journey Through History, Art, and Tradition Tour Highlights: 1. Han Chinese Clothing for female and Tang suit for male with making up (For customers ordered costume service) 2.Professional Photography by the Parisian magazine Roidx-featured team. 3.Authentic Cultural Workshops led by “非遗” (Intangible Cultural Heritage) experts. 4.Hands-on Experiences from traditional incense crafting to Suzhou-style rice cake making.

Set in a historic Shanghai villa with a private Chinese-style garden, this experience combines Chinese tea culture with traditional calligraphy in an intimate setting. Guests enjoy a guided tea tasting, learn about Chinese tea traditions, and receive a personalized Chinese name based on the sound or meaning of their original name. They will then practice writing their new Chinese name in calligraphy with guidance from an experienced instructor, creating a meaningful keepsake and a more personal connection to Chinese culture.

Unlike typical cultural tours or standalone spa treatments, our experience offers a deeply personalized understanding of your body and chinese medicine. We don't just demonstrate TCM—we immerse you in it with organic-certified herbs, licensed practitioners, and insights you can take with you after the experience. We also welcome you to personalize your experience. Please reach out to us for possibilities.

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.

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.

Hidden in central Shanghai. Wan Ling Tea House is a peaceful oasis. Emerse yourself in the moment and enjoy the wonderful tastes and aromas of fine Chinese tea, whilst learning about tea ceremonies.

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.

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.

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.

This tea tour immerses yourself in the rich tradition of Chinese tea with an exclusive Chinese Tea Culture Experience. The venue is close to Shanghai's former French Concession area, close to Tianzifang or Xujiahui. 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.

Take a seat at nimThé's tea table in M50 Art District, near Tian An 1000 Trees, for a relaxed introduction to Chinese tea. Taste five teas plus a seasonal welcome tea, enjoy Chinese tea snacks, and follow your curiosity with an English-speaking host. With a maximum of four guests, there is time to smell, sip, compare, and ask questions in a modern, comfortable space. Fit the tasting into your own day exploring M50's galleries and the surrounding neighbourhood.

What makes RUUTS unique is our approach to Chinese tea: we move beyond traditional tea ceremonies to create playful, sensory and immersive experiences. Guests are invited to taste, smell, observe and guess before discovering the story behind each tea. Through the eyes of a tea traveler with 7 years of experience exploring China’s tea regions, we connect tea with the country’s landscapes, people, history and everyday life, creating a personal and memorable cultural experience. The small-group format, carefully selected teas and authentic Shanghai settings create a bridge between China’s traditions and modern city life.