Economist Tea House (Issue No. 16)

Author: Jin Mingshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The tea house in China is similar to the café or bar in Europe. Therefore, when mentioning a tea house, one may associate it with the European cafés or bars that scholars and artists often frequent. Among the most famous European cafés I have visited, I would have to say the "Four Cats Café" (Els Quatre Gats) in Barcelona. It is not very large and is located in the center of Barcelona, quite a distance from where I lived at the time, but I still went there frequently to enjoy its ambiance. The reason is simple: apart from retaining the charm it had since its establishment in 1897, it was also a place where famous artists like Picasso, Ramon Casas, and Santiago Rusino often gathered to discuss art and exhibit their works. Sitting there, lost in thought, one can feel the passage of time and its enduring essence. Among the most famous European bars I have visited, I would say Lapin Agile in Montmartre, Paris. This bar originally had a very terrifying name—"Assassin's Bar"—but it was renamed after the painter A. Jill painted a picture of a rabbit holding a bottle jumping out of a pot on the wall. The atmosphere of the bar is very infectious. It is said that once you step inside, regardless of who you are, you will feel as if you have smoked opium in terms of your spirit. The reason for this effect is, of course, the excellent management, but more importantly, it was a place where artists like Picasso and Derain often stayed up all night when they were not yet famous.
In recent years, tea houses, or more accurately, tea art studios, have sprung up like mushrooms in China. There are at least dozens around the university where I work, and I occasionally visit them. However, I believe the best one, and the one I visit most often, is the "Economist Tea House." The tea house opens its doors infrequently, only four times a year, and the seating is extremely limited. Yet, this very tea house is always crowded with tea enthusiasts, both within and outside the economics circle, including seasoned economists and students. Here, they discuss national affairs, exchange academic insights, and share updates on scholarly trends, making it a place where people linger and become captivated, forming a beautiful sight. Truly, the "tea house" holds great depth, and the world of knowledge is as endless as the passage of time.