Inside Gongyan: An Immersive Chinese Banquet in Hangzhou

What is it like to spend an afternoon at Gongyan Oriental Art in Hangzhou? Come along for an imperial-style banquet where food, music and live performances share the room. This visit follows the afternoon from arrival and taking our seats through the opening spectacle, flowing sleeves, aerial performance and dishes arriving at the table. There is time to settle in and watch the performances, with the original sounds of the afternoon preserved. Along the way are Dongpo pork, sesame beef and broccoli, Imperial Style Roasted Prawn, candied jujubes on sticks, and noodles before the closing celebration. Use the chapters below to explore a particular course or performance or stay for the whole visit. Location: Gongyan Oriental Art, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. This video shows our visit. Menus and performances may vary. Visit date: 28 September 2026. Peifen and I attended in the early afternoon before heading to the airport for my flight home to the United States on business. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:23 Arriving at Gongyan 02:55 Taking Our Seats 05:31 The Opening Spectacle 10:37 The First Hot Course 11:58 Flowering Sleeves 16:01 From Stage to Table 16:56 Music in the Round 23:13 A Warming Course 24:47 Above the Stage 31:00 Behind the Silk Screens 36:33 Dongpo Pork 37:27 Stories of the Song Dynasty 50:11 Imperial Style Roasted Prawn 50:58 The Final Performance 01:00:50 Noodles and a Celebration Would you visit for the food, the performances, or the whole experience? Tell me in the comments. Subscribe to Why Visit China for personal encounters, everyday life and places worth exploring in China. #WhyVisitChina #Hangzhou #Gongyan