Description
Day 1: Retreat into Tea Mountains, Stroll by West Lake —— Hangzhou Tea Culture and Song Dynasty Charm
Today’s Theme: Savour Longjing Tea, Visit Ancient Temples, Immerse in Hangzhou’s “Song Style” Life
Meals: Lunch Included (Longjing Farmhouse Flavor); Dinner at your own expense (Recommended: Heritage restaurants around Hefang Street)
Accommodation: Hotel in Hangzhou Downtown
🕘 09:00 – 11:00 | Trace the Origin of Tea: China National Tea Museum (Shuangfeng or Longjing Branch)
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Our Arrangement: Professional guide will lead you to choose one of the two branches.
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Shuangfeng Branch (No. 88 Longjing Road): Highlights include architectural clusters in the Jiangnan residential style. There are five exhibition halls detailing the evolution of tea from Shennong’s discovery to the Tang and Song Dynasties. Local Tip: The waterside pavilion behind the Tea Set Hall is the perfect spot for photos with the tea gardens.
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Longjing Branch (No. 268 Wengjiashan): Highlights include the “World Tea Hall” built along the mountain, offering a panoramic view of Longjing Village.
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Scenic Highlights: Admire the Qing Dynasty export porcelain tea sets and learn about the “Seven-Whisking Method” of Song Dynasty tea whisking.
🕚 11:30 – 13:30 | Lunch & Ten-Mile Plum Grove: Meijiawu Tea Village
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Our Arrangement: Enjoy a Included Lunch in Meijiawu. Dishes typically include the famous “Longjing Shrimp” or “Tea-scented Pork Ribs.”
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Culture & Heritage: Meijiawu has over 600 years of history and was visited 5 times by Premier Zhou Enlai. Here, you can watch local tea farmers hand-roasting fresh tea in iron woks at 200°C (most spectacular from March to April).
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Options: Find a teahouse by the stream in the afternoon to brew a cup of authentic West Lake Longjing (Reference price: 50-120 RMB/cup) and feel the Hangzhou leisure.
🕑 14:00 – 16:30 | Picturesque Jiangnan: West Lake In-depth Tour
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Our Arrangement: Stroll along the Su Causeway to enjoy the panoramic view of West Lake.
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Site Details:
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Breeze-Ruffled Lotus at Wuyuan Garden: Located at the north end of Su Causeway, famous for lotus in summer and exquisite pavilions year-round.
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Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Recommended at own expense): Take a boat from Huagang Pier (Reference price: 55 RMB including boat ticket + island entry). This is the scenery featured on the back of the 1 RMB note.
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Leifeng Pagoda (Recommended at own expense): Built in 977 AD; the current tower was rebuilt in 2002, preserving the original tower base from the Wuyue Kingdom period inside.
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🕓 16:30 – 17:30 | Evening Bell at Nanping Hill: Jingci Temple
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Our Arrangement: Visit the thousand-year-old temple on the south bank of West Lake.
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Practical Info: Entry to Jingci Temple is 10 RMB (pay on-site). Recommended to enter before 16:00 to reach the bell tower.
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Life Details: Inside the bell tower to the right of the main hall, the massive bronze bell is struck by monks or visitors around 16:00, with deep sound waves echoing through Nanping Hill. This is also the best angle for a panoramic photo of the Leifeng Pagoda opposite.
🕕 18:00 – 19:30 | Old Dreams of Prosperity: Qinghe坊 Historical Street
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Our Arrangement: Stroll through Southern Song Imperial Street and Hefang Street.
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Food Recommendations (Self-pay):
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Huang Fan Er (Gaoyin Street): Signature “Qianlong Fish Head,” approx. 120 RMB per person.
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Jiang Shun Fa Dingsheng Cake: Trending snack on Hefang Street, approx. 10 RMB per person.
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Options: Visit the Hu Qing Yu Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum (Entry approx. 10 RMB) to see pharmacists slicing herbs on-site.
Day 2: Morning in the Water Town, Mailing Wishes —— Wuzhen Xizha In-depth Tour
Today’s Theme: Waterside Households, Intangible Heritage, Slow Life
Meals: Breakfast Included (In hotel); Lunch and Dinner at your own expense (Recommended: Specialty snacks inside Xizha)
Drop-off: Station/Airport transfer after the itinerary
🕘 08:30 – 10:30 | Transfer to Wuzhen
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Our Arrangement: Drive to Wuzhen, Tongxiang (approx. 1.5 hours).
🕙 10:30 – 15:30 | Dreamy Water Town: Wuzhen Xizha (Full Day Tour)
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Our Arrangement: Professional guide leads you through the core areas of Xizha.
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Site Selections:
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Xuchang Sauce Garden: Dating back to 1859, the courtyard full of sauce jars with blue-and-white cloth covers is a photography sanctuary.
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Yichang Smeltery: See the “Number One Pot in the World” and learn about ancient Chinese pig iron casting techniques.
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Zhaoming Academy: The place where Crown Prince Xiao Tong of the Liang Dynasty studied, featuring beautiful wood-carved doors and windows.
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Wuzhen Post Office: Operating since the late Qing Dynasty, you can send a postcard with a Wuzhen postmark (Reference price: 5-10 RMB).
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Options (Self-pay):
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Sculling Boat: Recommended to board at White Lotus Pagoda Pier (Reference price: 60 RMB/person/one way, approx. 25 minutes) to slowly pass under stone bridges.
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Mu Xin Art Museum: Entry 20 RMB (Closed on Mondays), experience “Wuzhen in Literature.”
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12:00 – 13:00 | Taste of Wuzhen (Self-pay Recommendations)
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Location: Along Xizha Main Street.
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Must-Try List:
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Radish Silk Cake: Near Tongji Bridge, approx. 5 RMB each.
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Shusheng Mutton Noodles: Wuzhen specialty braised mutton, 45-60 RMB per person.
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Xiqingtang Afternoon Tea: Sip tea amidst traditional wedding customs and take a Hanfu photo.
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🕓 15:30 – 17:00 | Journey Completion
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Our Arrangement: Private transfer to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport or Train Station based on your flight or high-speed rail time.
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Warm Tips: It is suggested to book high-speed rail after 19:00 or flights after 20:00.
Longji Rice Terraces — Practical Information
Transport & Schedules
- Guilin city → Longji Rice Terraces (Jinkeng Dazhai) | Shared car/direct shuttle: A shared car from the city about CNY 50 per person round trip, about 1.5 h; the Jinkeng terraces direct shuttle from Guilin city about CNY 368, from Yangshuo county town about CNY 328 (OTA t[src]
Where to Stay · Room Type · Nearby
- Ping’an village / Jinkeng Dazhai (guesthouses in the village) | Room tip: Jinkeng Dazhai has a more spectacular view; to see the terraces at sunrise/sea of clouds, stay in the village | Nearby add-ons: Jinkeng terraces, Ping’an Zhuang terraces, Huangluo Red Yao village, Ancient Zhuang village[src]
