茶路 · Tea Path
Zhèjiāng · 浙江省
Growing region · Xihu Longjing · Anji Baicha · Songyang

Zhèjiāng

浙江省 · Zhèjiāng

One sip of Longjing — and spring returns

龙井春韵

Zhejiang is the birthplace of Xihu Longjing, China's No. 1 green tea with a 1,200-year history. Itinerary: West Lake and Longjing Village → Anji bamboo forests → southern Zhejiang tea terraces → cloud gardens of the She people. Home to the world's largest tea museum in Hangzhou.

Teas of this area

Сиху Лунцзин 西湖龙井

No. 1 green tea, 1,200+ years. Longjing Village is the original terroir. Shi Feng (狮峰) is the highest-grade area, up to 50,000+ ¥/kg. Hand-roasted in a wok — flat, jade-like leaf.

Аньцзи Байча 安吉白茶

NOT white tea! Green tea from an albino cultivar. Ultra-tender, amino acid umami. Bamboo forests — filming location for 'Crouching Tiger'.

Сунъян Сянча 松阳香茶

Aromatic tea of southern Zhejiang. 'The last tea paradise.' Terraces in the Lishui mountains.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Сиху Лунцзин 杭州·西湖龙井

    No. 1 Green Tea

    Xihu Longjing — 1,200+ years. Longjing Village (龙井村). Shi Feng — 50,000+ ¥/kg. Hand-roasted in a wok. West Lake UNESCO. Lingyin Temple. China National Tea Museum — the world's largest. Tasting: Shi Feng vs Mei Jiawu vs Longwu.

    Boutique hotel by West Lake

  2. День 3

    Аньцзи 安吉县

    Baicha · Bamboo

    Albino cultivar — ultra-tender, amino acid umami, jade hue. Bamboo forests — filming location for 'Crouching Tiger'. One of the fast-rising tea brands.

    Bamboo lodge

  3. День 4

    Шэнчжоу · Синьчан 嵊州·新昌

    Yuexiang and Dafo Longjing

    Longjing beyond West Lake. Yuexiang Longjing (越乡) and Dafo Longjing (大佛) — eastern style. More affordable, yet quality.

    Shengzhou hotel

  4. День 5

    Сунъян 松阳县

    Xiangcha · Terraces

    'The last tea paradise' — terraces in the Lishui mountains. Songyang Xiangcha — aromatic tea. Ancient villages with rammed-earth walls.

    Songyang mountain lodge

  5. День 6

    Цзиннин 景宁畲族自治县

    Huiming Cha · She People

    Huiming Cha — tea of the She people (畲族), cloud gardens. Pingyang (平阳) — Huangtang, one of the last yellow teas. Southern Zhejiang — the uncharted tea frontier.

    Jingning mountain house

  6. День 7

    Ханчжоу 杭州

    Finale

    Meijiawu market — the best Longjing selection. Silk market. Hangzhou cuisine + Longjing. Green tea is best fresh — buy the current year!

Planning

Transport
Fly into Hangzhou (HGH). Trains (excellent!). ~1000 km.
Climate
Subtropical, 18–30°C. Humid. Optimal: March–April.
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, raincoat, thermal bag for fresh tea.
Buying tea
Longjing: from 1000 ¥/jin (authentic Xihu!). Anji: seasonal. Meijiawu market. Vacuum pack + cool storage.