I think 1100 RMB is bit on the high side for the tea-ceremony, but I agree, the teas at the tea-ceremony places are rather inflated. I'd recommend
buying the teas from a local tea store instead.

If you are still in Beijing and interested in the Tea, there is a store on the
top floor of the new Market. I've found that to be the least inflated among
the tea-stores i've visited. and you can try them before you buy them.
And ofcourse, you can bargain. Go late in the day. If they start with
an amount, you start bargaining with 1/10th of it. You cant do this in
a tea house though.

I've bumped into many people who wanted to practice English at Tianamen
Square and I found them to be the best guides. They offered a lot
of useful information and I think it was all honest. No one ever asked us to
buy anything. In fact, they cautioned us about the shady deals.