Built in the 17th century Wanli Longevity Tea House stands proudly. It’s located in the Longtan area of Beijing. This isn’t just any tea house. It holds a special place in history. It’s one of the largest and most beautiful tea houses. It’s also the best-preserved of its kind.
The Wanli Longevity Tea House was built by Zhang Huachang. He was a Qing Dynasty official. Zhang managed the brick and tile kilns in Longtan Village. The village had been a center for brick and tile production for centuries. The tea house’s construction was a labor of love. It was a gift from Zhang to the pilgrims visiting the Miaofengshan Nunnery.
The original route to the nunnery didn’t pass through Longtan Village. Pilgrims traveled from Sanjiadian north. They passed by the military camp. Then they went west to the Wang Family Estate. Finally they went northwest towards Miaofengshan. Zhang Huachang cleverly diverted the route. He wanted to boost his village’s economy.
He spent a year building the Wanli Longevity Tea House. It was a generous offering. He offered pilgrims free food and lodging. The tea house’s name reflects Zhang’s intention. It expresses respect for Miaofengshan Nunnery. After its construction the route changed. It passed through Longtan Village. Pilgrims used the Wanli Longevity Tea House as a rest stop.
The main hall of the Wanli Longevity Tea House is stunning. It has three bays facing outwards. Two bays are deep inside. The total is six bays. They are joined together using a folded bracket system. The front three bays form the tea house’s roof. The back three form a hard mountaintop style roof. Green glazed tiles cover both roofs. The walls are made of carved bricks. There’s a blue-grey stone base beneath. Five layers of blue-grey stone steps lead to the entrance.
Two large wooden pillars divide the main hall into front and back sections. Two intricately carved brick panels are on the side walls. Each panel has two-foot-high characters. They read “For Good is the Greatest Joy”. Beautiful brick carvings frame them. The back section once held a five-colored glazed brick screen. All of its furniture was made of brick. Unfortunately it no longer exists.
To the east and west are five more bays. They are all hard mountain style. Green glazed tiles and a blue-grey stone base are shared. These ten bays housed rooms for pilgrims. Each room had an earthen floor. These rooms offered pilgrims lodging when they were traveling far. The interiors were paved with bricks. A blue-grey stone walkway separated the rooms. The mountain gate features an exquisite wooden frame. Carvings decorate it. They read “Ten Thousand Years of Spring”. A well was nearby. A large stone basin was beside it. Pilgrims used it for water.
The tea house was made using locally fired bricks and tiles. These materials were the same as those used in the imperial palace. Zhang’s family meticulously prepared the materials. They used a small quantity of yellow glazed brick. The colorful decorations used were painted in gold. The gold paint is still vibrant today. The wood used was from the Ditan Temple. It was high-quality acacia wood. The Ditan Temple provided plenty of bricks and tiles. These were donated to the temple every year for repair. The same temple provided the high-quality acacia wood for the tea house. It served as a kind of reciprocal gesture. A large courtyard was next to the Wanli Longevity Tea House. It was used for parking horses and carriages. Today the Wanli Longevity Tea House stands as a precious testament. It’s a treasure of Beijing’s brick and tile kiln industry. It’s vital for understanding the cultural exchange. It was also an important rest stop on the pilgrimage route to Miaofengshan Nunnery.