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Each student has a cup hanging on the wall. Both student and teacher sit amid the eclectic collection of junk and art at the China Treasure House. Expensive jewelry is for sale next to delicate slippers and trinkets. An exotic $80 Chinese print hangs next to a Bruce Lee T-shirt. A Chinese knife more than 2,000 years old also is for sale, as are a gaudy pair of "Garfield the Cat" shoes.

It's hard to say if Huang is deliberately eclectic, or if his merchandise just appeals to the sense of balance he has honed over a lifetime. There are books of all kinds in the shop: Chinese philosophy, "The Tao of Meditation," biographies and Chinese poetry. And there among the lofty tomes is a beat-up copy of a Frank Yerby adventure novel and some high school freshman's old algebra book. A "lucky" ladybug pin sells for 71 cents. Huang spends most of his days in this shop of contradictions, rarely closing, always re-arranging his goods or waiting for students.

Excerpt. Complete story here.

The mysteries of the East are unfolding in Cleveland Heights. Tucked inconspicuously among Coventry's perhaps more hipster-friendly establishments, the China Treasure House - as the name suggests - trades in all-things-oriental. From healing teas to Bruce Lee t-shirts, the crowded little shop carries an eclectic mix of Asian books, clothing, trinkets, and accessories that range from the kitschy to the obscure.

Looking for that perfect Karate patch to add a subtle "don't mess with me" look to that tattered old jacket of yours? Or maybe a set of those fancily decorated little steel balls that you can click and roll around in your hands to ward off unwanted houseguests? The China Treasure House is on your side. And if you're looking to really get in touch with your Eastern self, the storeowner will happily school you in the wonders of tai-chi in the makeshift classroom that sits at the back of the store.