Get ready to indulge in the magic of a Chinese New Year-themed afternoon tea. This festive twist on the classic tradition brings an explosion of flavors and culinary wonders, weaving together the essence of Chinese New Year in every delightful bite.

Picture a spread adorned with auspicious desserts, savory delights echoing Chinese culinary heritage, and an explosion of vibrant colors that mirror the festive spirit. It’s not just afternoon tea; it’s a jubilant feast that tantalizes taste buds and wraps you in the warm embrace of the festivities.

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center’s “Warm Winter” Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea

Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center’s Lobby Lounge presents a “Warm Winter” Chinese New Year-themed afternoon tea, featuring 14 sweet and savory treats and 15 coffee and tea options. Enjoy creative European delicacies such as lobster cream puffs, white tea raspberry mini-cakes, and citrus Italian panna cotta. Traditional Chinese snacks include steamed cakes, rice cakes, roasted radish pastries, silver ear fungus soup, and a chocolate dragon with auspicious meaning.

Chinese New Year-themed cakes from the Kempinski Deli offer both a whole “orange”-themed Big Red Robe chocolate mousse cake for sharing with friends and a single-serving Red Fruit mini-cake for personal indulgence.

Afternoon tea service until February 29. Cake service from February 5-18. For details or reservations, follow Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center’s official WeChat account.

The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing’s “British Bear” Centennial Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea

The Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing presents a whimsical Lunar New Year-themed afternoon tea in collaboration with a century-old toy brand – Hamleys. Indulge in delightful desserts like chocolate bears, raspberry coconut mousse cakes in lucky bag shapes, and cheesecakes in firecracker shapes. Pair these with savory options like foie gras puff pastry and homemade beetroot salmon with avocado. The tea set also includes two Lunar New Year gift baskets with premium ingredients such as Chinese sausage, Jinhua ham, sea cucumber, and abalone, along with handmade desserts and champagne.

Afternoon tea service until March 10. Gift basket service until February 15. For afternoon tea details or reservations, call 010-59088180. For gift basket details or reservations, call 010-59088161.

NUO Hotel Beijing’s “Auspicious Dragon” Chinese New Year Limited Afternoon Tea

NUO Hotel Beijing’s Lobby Bar introduces the “Auspicious Dragon” Chinese New Year limited afternoon tea, blending Chinese flavors with Western-style pastries. The tea set features creatively shaped items like firecrackers, candied hawthorns, and lucky mandarins made from Chinese ingredients like persimmons and hawthorns.

Afternoon tea service until February 24. For details or reservations call 010-59268281.

Hilton Beijing’s New Chinese Afternoon Tea

Hilton Beijing’s afternoon tea brings a touch of red to this winter. The rich Chinese red tea aroma fills the air, combined with six kinds of dried fruit preserves and four classic desserts for a delightful chat. Seasonal fruits act as a finale, filling the mouth with sweet juice, awakening the taste buds, and refreshing both the mind and body.

Available until March 31. For reservations or inquiries, scan the QR code on the poster.

Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel’s “Dunhuang Reflections” Collaborative Afternoon Tea

Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel collaborates with the Dunhuang Art Academy to present the “Dunhuang Reflections” art exhibition. The hotel also introduces a collaborative afternoon tea, using micro-landscapes to depict a sunset camel caravan. This creative fusion of contemporary Chinese and Western elements connects art and food.

Afternoon tea service until February 29. Reservation are required 24 hours in advance. For more information or reservations, call 010-57988996.

Peninsula Beijing’s Paper Folding-Themed Afternoon Tea in Partnership With Mr. Liu Tong

Peninsula Beijing collaborates with Chinese origami artist Mr. Liu Tong to create the dragon paper folding-themed Lunar New Year afternoon tea. Traditional paper folding art and valley philosophy are creatively presented in a feast for the taste buds, featuring delicacies such as coconut pineapple Peninsula hat cakes, red currant hawthorn chocolate mousse cakes, and raspberry hazelnut white chocolate cakes displayed in an origami-style afternoon tea stand.

Afternoon tea service until March 10. For details or reservations, follow Peninsula Beijing’s official WeChat account by scanning the QR code.

Empark Prime Hotel Beijing’s Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea

Located on the first floor of Empark Hotel, the Mansion is the perfect place to gather with friends for a relaxing break. They are introducing a Chinese New Year-themed afternoon tea, where a variety of colorful desserts carry blessings. Enjoy a harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors while indulging in light conversations during the leisurely afternoon.

Afternoon tea service available until February 29th. For details and reservations, scan the QR code on the poster.

Images: courtesy of hotels

Finally, the first buds are beginning to bloom and tips of fresh green grass are peeking out of the hard earth as dusty winter leaves Beijing to make way for spring! Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful times to be in the city, springtime in the capital calls for us to gather with friends and family to rediscover old connections.

In that spirit, the rebranded Empark Prime Hotel, formerly known simply as Prime Hotel, is welcoming guests, after extensive renovations, to enjoy their suite of stylish rooms. To sweeten the deal, they are also offering a spring-themed high tea afternoon every day from 2pm to 5pm. Featuring light, fruity cream cakes and savory bites of salmon and beef carpaccio wrapped with fresh cucumber, as well as fresh-baked scones with homemade cream and passion fruit jam, the high tea set comes served in a sturdy wooden display with the Chinese character “世” (which translates to “world” and is part of the hotel’s name). But one of the most fun parts of the display is the edible flowers and vines that adorn the wooden frame, though I would warn that they are more of a gimmick than a tasty treat.

Enjoy your high tea in the lounge bar on the ground floor of the hotel, across the stately lobby with the eye-catching marble stairway – a point of pride in the hotel’s luxurious aesthetic. There are distinctive works of art on display throughout the lounge area that allude to the hotel’s varied past – such as a remarkable replica of the sailing vessel that once sailed to Nanyang (now known as Singapore).

After 60 years of accommodating visiting royalty, heads of state, celebrities and captains of industry, Empark Prime Hotel Beijing is well-equipped to understand the discerning needs of its VIP guests in a suite. The historical hotel has cultural roots dating back to the 1950s, and the hotel was once proposed by famous patriot Mr. Tan Kah Kee as one of the top ten buildings in Beijing.

High tea is available at Empark Prime Hotel every day between 2pm and 5pm from now until June, and priced affordably at RMB 399 per set. The hotel is within a five-minute drive to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and is located right at the exit of Dongsi subway station (Lines 5 & 6).

Find it:
2 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
王府井大街2号

Images: Courtesy of the hotel