Xiaolongbao Cooking Class with Instructor

AIR-CONDITIONED HEAVEN!! 🧊🥟 After melting in the Shanghai summer heat, walking into this cool tea house was everything. Anna was FANTASTIC — energetic, hilarious, and a legit dumpling master. Made the best xiaolongbao of my life (yes, mine!). Ice-cold tea + hot fresh dumplings = summer perfection! ❄️🔥🥟

Smart move booking this for a sweltering August afternoon. The tea house had powerful AC and the cold brew tea was so refreshing. Sophia was energetic despite the heat and kept everyone engaged. The hands-on portion is genuinely hands-on — you're not just watching, you're doing every step. The filling was perfectly seasoned (they shared the recipe!), and learning the pleat fold was surprisingly meditative. We sat with travelers from 4 different countries and ended up exchanging Instagram handles. The instructor also gave us a list of recommended local eats nearby, which we used for the rest of our trip. A few things to know: the alleyway can be a bit hard to spot — look for the tea house sign with Chinese characters. And wear shorts/light clothes, the kitchen area does get warm when all the steamers are going.

Still dreaming about these dumplings!! 😍 Mr. Zhang was incredible — so knowledgeable and encouraging. The class is in the cutest traditional tea house and the spring light through the windows was gorgeous. If you're in Shanghai you HAVE to do this. Zero regrets, 100% deliciousness! ✨🥟🌸

FALL IN LOVE WITH XIAOLONGBAO!! ❤️ The beautiful lane house, Mr. Zhang's incredible teaching — everything was perfect. Learned the 18-pleat technique and actually got good at it! The dumplings were divine and the whole experience was pure joy. MUST DO IN SHANGHAI!! 🥟✨

My husband and I did this class on our honeymoon and it was such a sweet memory. David noticed it was our honeymoon and made a little extra effort — arranged our seats by the window with the best view, gave us a special tea, and even taught us how to make heart-shaped dumplings (not traditional but very cute). The class itself was excellent regardless — well-structured, hands-on, and genuinely educational. We learned about the three essential elements of xiaolongbao: thin skin, abundant filling, and rich broth. The pleating technique takes practice but David was endlessly patient. After steaming, we all shared our dumplings and stories. The atmosphere was warm and convivial. The tea house is easy to reach and in a lovely neighborhood for post-class wandering. We took so many photos. Definitely a honeymoon highlight.