Viewers take tea, feasting their eyes on an ancient creative art

For most people in fast-paced modern society, drinking a cup of tea is a good way to relax and quench their thirst.

In the hit online series A Dream of Splendor, the complex and exquisite rituals involved in serving the beverage have focused attention on cha bai xi, (tea acrobatics), an ancient art that dates to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and which uses tea paste as a raw material.

In one of the drama's most-reviewed scenes, actress Liu Yifei, starring as a teahouse keeper, is forced to take part in a "duel" initiated by her jealous business rivals. For "weapons", they use a delicate array of tea sets and tea leaves.