Tea time

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is known for enriching his spare time with art, cultural activities and tea. He sought to combine the three into trends of his time. He ordered the production of fine tea ware at imperial kilns and composed poems themed on tea.

The emperor also supervised the construction of tea rooms in palaces to organize social gatherings around the brewing process.

His investment in such an affluent life related to tea is on show at an exhibition on Chinese tea culture at the Hebei Museum, in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang.

The exhibition runs until Oct 27, drawing objects from the collections of the Palace Museum, the Hebei Museum and the China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to explore the history of tea. It will also examine various social activities and folk customs related to the tea-drinking culture, showcasing the embodiment of aesthetics that were popular among different social ranks.

9 am-6:30 pm, closed on Mondays. No 4 East Street (Dongdajie), Chang'an district, Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. 0311-966-518.