Longjing tea from bluish to deep green after steeping. Before infusion, higher quality Longjing teas have a very tight, flat shape and light green color. A study by Wang and Ruan (2009) found that one aspect of the perceived low quality of Longjing teas was a higher concentration of chlorophyll, producing a darker green color. The study revealed that free amino acids and theanine concentrations contribute positively to what is perceived as a good taste. Longjing tea was granted the status of Gong Cha, or imperial tea, in the Qing dynasty by the Kangxi Emperor. According to the legend, The Kangxi Emperor's
Shantang Street the "Cishi" (modern-day equivalent of the prefectural governor) of Suzhou, to provide a link between Huqiu and the city. The sludge dug out from the construction formed a dam along the north bank of the canal known as Baigong Dam (Chinese:白公堤) in honor of Bai Juyi. A street was built on dam, which later became the modern-day Shantang Street. Along with Pingjiang Road, the street was declared a "Historical and cultural block of China" (Chinese:中国历史文化街区) in 2015. Today, this is a heavily touristed area, with visitors attracted by the heritage nature of the buildings and the old stone bridges. Shantang