It’s pleasant to have friends coming from afar. The Hangzhou Asian Games is about to kick off. The China National Tea Museum recently launched an exhibition of Asian tea culture to help visitors better understand Chinese tea culture, and promote communication and development of tea culture from a global perspective. 

The exhibition was hosted by the China National Tea Museum and cohosted by Overseas Chinese History Museum of China and Zhenjiang Museum under the auspices of the Hangzhou West Lake scenic spot administrative committee. A total of 125 pieces and items of cultural relics and auxiliary exhibits were showcased. Of them, one was a grade-two cultural relic and three were grade three. Around 30 percent of the exhibits appeared in the China National Tea Museum for the first time. The exhibition will last to mid-November.

According to the China National Tea Museum, the exhibition chronicled tea culture in China and other parts of Asia in three chapters, presenting distinctive tea culture in China and other parts of Asia in different periods of time. It reflects the common development and prosperity of the tea culture distinctive to the Chinese nation and other Asian countries, both of which are symbols for exchanges of civilizations. 

Many exhibits have great stories to tell. For example, of the collections of the China National Tea Museum, there is a blue-and-white teapot with figure patterns. On its bottom wrote “Yong Mao Yuan Ji,” unique to the Jiangqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912). Many of porcelain wares with the writing were made by China for Thailand. A closer look reveals that there are two “ears” on each side of the tea pot. The upper part is painted with landscape patterns, and the body part with swords, horses and figures, telling the story of “double bluff strategy” from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.   

In addition, some exhibits have associations with overseas Chinese. One of them is a set of tea wares used by Chinese descendants in Southeast Asia. The tea wares are collected by Overseas Chinese History Museum of China. A staff instructor said that the tea set is dressed up with Chinese traditional patterns of dragons and phoenix, which symbols auspiciousness and good luck. Apart from red, gold was the dominant decorative color. The handle on the tea pot reflects integration and exchanges of culture. 

Tea is a symbol of Oriental civilization. It contains the value of seeking harmony in diversity and shared prosperity. The China National Tea Museum aims to deliver the concept of inclusiveness, harmony and civility by holding the exhibition. A sincere invitation to the exhibition is extended to all. Do come to the museum and take a sip of China’s long-lasting tea culture during the Hangzhou Asian Games.