Meet at Ruyuan, and become friends as you wish|Afternoon tea experience at Ruyuan Tibetan Coffee Shop in Xi'an
It only takes a small corner to get from Xi'an to Lhasa. In the residential compound near Guangren Temple, there is an inconspicuous little iron gate, inside which hides a small Tibetan courtyard. It is said that the boss opened this coffee shop because he likes Tibetan culture. However, as it is too hidden, many people who come looking for it return disappointed. Whether one can come here to drink together depends entirely on fate.
📍Address: Building 6, Xinhua Bookstore Staff Quarters, No. 40, Xibei 1st Road, Lianhu District, Xi'an.
🚇Transportation: You can take Xi'an Metro Line 1 and get off at Yuxiangmen Station or Sajinqiao Station. Exit from Exit D, walk east along Lianhu Road for about 1 kilometer, then turn right into Northwest 1st Road, and continue walking for about 300 meters to arrive; exit from Sajinqiao Station, walk north along Northwest 3rd Road for about 1 kilometer, turn left into Northwest 1st Road, and continue walking for about 200 meters to see the Xinhua Bookstore staff compound.
For southern tourists who don’t often drink coffee, the "Lhasa Sweet Tea" here is an excellent choice - the tea has a light milky aroma, moderate sweetness, and a warm and mellow taste, as if bringing the sunshine of Lhasa to the afternoon in Xi'an. The store's decoration is full of Tibetan elements. Prayer flags, thangkas, wooden furniture and warm lighting complement each other, and the soft Tibetan music makes people relax instantly. If you want to try Tibetan specialty drinks, you can also choose coffee with yak milk. The rich taste of yak milk and the slightly bitter taste of coffee combine to create a unique flavor. The boss will give a diamond knot for each drink, which symbolizes peace and good fortune, and is a blessing for this fate.
🌟Butter tea
There are two specifications: low salt and normal salt. The normal salt version is a bit saltier and has a strong milky flavor. Although there is no milk in the list of ingredients, it is served with soft and fragrant yak cheese, and it feels like you are on the plateau of Lhasa.
🌟Highland Barley Butter Latte
I don't know if it's because of the addition of ghee, or because yak milk is used instead of fresh milk, but this latte goes on very smoothly, with a lingering fragrance in the mouth and nose but not astringent. The yak milk dates are coated with a sweet and sticky layer, which goes perfectly with coffee. In comparison, this saffron latte is a bit more bitter, with a strong aroma. The embellishment of saffron is like a rare deep red on the plateau, and paired with the milky barley milk crisps, the mouth seems to become colorful.
🌟Maggie Ami's yogurt
It is said to be yak yogurt from the Tibetan area. It will be very sour without sugar, but with the addition of shredded butter and rose jam, the flavor becomes richer. You can also add fried rice, fried millet and milk skin crisps, and the layers of taste will gradually emerge.
🌟Highland barley pepper and salt crisps
Different from the sweet peach cake, it has a subtle peppery taste, and is crispy and crunchy when eaten with fried rice.
Some other recommended attractions around the coffee shop:
✅Xi'an City Wall
It is about 1.5 kilometers away from Guangren Temple and can be reached on foot or by bike. This is the most complete ancient city wall in China. You can rent a bicycle to travel around and overlook the panoramic view of the ancient city. There are literary shops and cafes in Shuncheng Lane at the foot of the city wall, which is suitable for taking photos and checking in.
✅Muslim Street and Sajin Bridge
✨Muslim Street: A food landmark in Xi'an, it gathers classic snacks such as roujiamo, mutton soup bun, and cold noodles. It is recommended to try the steamed buns from Lao Sun's or Tong Sheng Xiang and experience the fun of breaking the buns by hand.
✨Sajinqiao: A food street preferred by locals, with many authentic restaurants hidden inside. Don’t miss Ma Er’s sour soup dumplings and Liu Xin’s stir-fried beef and mutton steamed buns.
✨Bell Tower and Drum Tower
The symbol of Xi'an, it is brightly lit at night and is suitable for photographing night scenes. The top-floor observation deck of Kaiyuan Shopping Mall next to the Bell Tower is an excellent spot to overlook the panoramic view of the Bell Tower for free.
✨Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi'an Museum
Compared with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has fewer tourists and a quieter environment. There are towering ancient trees in the park, and the spring cherry blossoms and ancient pagodas complement each other beautifully. The adjacent Xi'an Museum is free to visit and learn about Xi'an's thousand-year history.
Ruyuan Coffee, hidden in a residential building, combines the tranquility of the place with the bustling atmosphere of the surrounding area, perfectly connecting the ancient and modern times of Xi'an. Whether it is the mellow aroma of Tibetan sweet tea or the historical echoes under the city wall, they can make our children from Guangzhou feel the unique ruggedness and warmth of the Northwest.