On September 23, Starbucks kicked off its Tang Dynasty cultural tour in collaboration with the Shaanxi History Museum, drawing design inspiration from the museum's national treasure, the Tang Dynasty Gold Bowl with Mandarin Duck and Lotus Petal Patterns. The co-branded museum collection is now available at Starbucks stores nationwide, while Xi'an is hosting exclusive experiences such as limited-edition beverages, Tang-style sightseeing buses, and themed store activations.
The cultural core of this cross-industry partnership stems from the national treasure Gold Bowl with Mandarin Duck and Lotus Petal Patterns housed in the Shaanxi History Museum. Drawing on the bowl's ornate elegance and traditional auspicious animal motifs, Starbucks has unveiled a range of museum-inspired souvenir items, including the gold bowl gift box, mugs, pure titanium series products, and themed bear merchandise.
On the beverage front, Starbucks Reserve stores in Xi'an are debuting two limited-edition drinks conceived by store partners. One, inspired by the summer scenery of Yongning Gate, features reserve espresso at the base to echo the earth's terrain, topped with matcha milk foam to mimic the breeze over the river, named "Yongning Bilan." The other, a latte blending matcha's verdant freshness with vanilla's warmth, is finished with a matcha powder imprint of the characters "Chang'an," christened "Qingyang Chang'an."
Notably, this initiative introduces a Tang-style themed sightseeing bus as a mobile cultural experience space, wrapped in Tang Dynasty aesthetics inside and out, linking several key cultural and tourism landmarks across Xi'an. During designated time slots, an interactive performance titled "Li Bai's Poetic Journey through Chang'an" unfolds, with a performer portraying the poet Li Bai boarding the bus to deliver cultural commentary and engagement tied to Xi'an's landmarks and historical anecdotes. Tourists can soak in the grandeur of the High Tang era while traversing the city.
The tour route connects five themed experience stops, with the Starbucks Reserve Qujiang Dayanta store serving as the flagship themed location, where the scene of a lavish Tang Dynasty banquet is vividly recreated. Other collaborative stops along the route include the Starbucks Reserve SKP Central Hall store, exuding the Zen-like charm of ancient Chang'an; the Starbucks Reserve Xi'an Bell Tower store, offering a prime vantage point overlooking the iconic bell tower; the Starbucks Reserve South Street Zhongda International store, featuring a giant "Xi'an" wall assembled from coffee bean cards; and the Starbucks at Tang Paradise South Gate, blending Tang-style architecture with garden vistas. Each location offers lightweight Tang-themed settings and dedicated photo spots, complemented by a stamp-collecting tour activity where visitors can participate, collect stamps, and redeem exclusive gifts.