Both tea and alcohol in traditional China were similarly aestheticized, and both influenced the language of literature and art. People used to exchange alcohol as a gift in a way that they later would with tea. Today, more and more cities in China have embraced this drinking culture that passed down from generation to generation, and reinterpreted with a new contemporary fashion, which is constantly evolving in the urban cafes and bars.
How does urban context shape the contemporary drinking culture in China? How does drinking as a daily routine fit spatially into the increasingly crowded neighborhood? To provide a focused insight into the design of bars, cafes and tea houses in China, this article will analyze a range of projects located in ten geographically different regions…