Winning blend makes return

"We have also hosted more than 100 state leaders ... attracted by the charms of our traditional culture," Yin said.

In the past three years, Beijing Language and Culture University has teamed up with the Laoshe Teahouse for its international students to learn and experience Chinese culture.

One woman, Lei Lei, brought her British friend Steven to an evening performance at the teahouse. "He wanted to know something about Chinese culture, so I figured that here was probably the ideal place," she said.

However, this teahouse revitalization has some critics.

After visiting at least five teahouses, Wen Hong, the Peking Opera fan, felt that some had become too commercialized.