A Teapot and Teacup Shaped Hotel and Museum

A couple of days ago, a picture of the largest teapot in the world came through the feed of a Facebook tea and hospitality group I belong to, and I can't resist sharing it here on my blog.

The 74 meters tall hotel also houses the Meitan Tea Museum with tea houses on all the floors [10 of them] with artifact displays and ceremonial equipage used by several dynasties, as well as tea equipage of other countries.  There's a tasting room where visitors can sample various types of Chinese tea, and tea competitions are also hosted there.  At the top is an open-air balcony that offers stunning views of the city as well as tea plantations and the surrounding countryside.  It's especially beautiful at night when it's lit up, dominating the skyline.

The hotel's unique architectural feat promotes Chinese tea culture while providing luxurious accommodations for visitors.  

Construction lasted 7 years from 1999 to 2006, and in 2013 it was given 4 Stars based on Chinese standards.  It was also listed in the king's book of records as an outstanding architectural phenomenon.

Meitan is located in the Guizhou Province.   The teapot structure pays tribute to the city as the birthplace of green tea.  

There are several You-Tube videos about the teapot hotel/museum.  The 15-minute video that I watched gave a guided tour of each floor.  Several articles are online as well and are very interesting.  Too bad it's in China because that's a destination that's not on my bucket list.