Named after the Beijing novelist and playwright Lao She, whose satirical play Teahouse (1957) is one of the most important works in modern Chinese theatre, this multi-storey teahouse near Qianmen stages nightly performances of traditional Beijing entertainment: Peking Opera excerpts, acrobatics, face-changing Sichuan opera, comedy cross-talk, and shadow puppetry. The format is variety show; the audience sits at tea tables and is served throughout.
The performances run two hours and are a genuinely accessible introduction to traditional Chinese performing arts for visitors without Chinese. The teahouse also operates a large menu of teas from across China and serves imperial-style snacks. Book in advance, particularly for the evening show; there is also a short afternoon programme.