Artists from Laoshe Teahouse perform a tea pouring ceremony at the cerebration observing the teahouse's new role as a Showcase of China's Cultural Industry on Monday, October 20, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Laoshe teahouse, also a live tea museum that is named after modern Chinese novel writer, Laoshe, has always been a hot place for Beijing tourists who love to enjoy Chinese tea culture. But starting Monday, the teahouse will also welcome guests as a showcase of the essence of Chinese traditions.

In the teahouse to the south of Tian'anmen square, Yin Zhijun, general manager of the establishment, unveiled on Monday a plate engraved with the teahouse's new sub-title: A Showcase of China's Cultural Industry.

The event was attended by officials from China's Ministry of Culture as well as heads of the government of Xuanwu district of Beijing, where the teahouse was located.

Through its 30 years of business, Laoshe teahouse has become one of Beijing's cultural icons. Ding Li, an official from the Xuanwu district, says that with its examples of tea culture, Peking opera and martial arts, the teahouse can live up to its time honour.

The teahouse also put tea ceremonies and shadow plays to entertain its guests on the occasion, which has become a tradition.

During the Beijing Olympics in August, the teahouse received high ranking officials from 11 countries and 17,000 visitors from home and abroad.

Yin Zhijun also told CRI reporters that his teahouse's performing troupe also brought a free show to a county in Beijing's suburbs on the eve of this year's National Day holiday.

The troupe has also toured other institutions of higher learning in the capital, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and China's Central Conservatory of Music.

Currently, the teahouse is busy preparing for the visit of heads of states who are expected to attend the 7th ASEM summit to be held in Beijing during October 24 and 25.

Now with new mission in mind, Yin Zhijun says, the teahouse spares no effort in promoting the essence of tea culture and traditional arts to China's young generation and the world.