Photo provided to Hangzhoufeel
By Chen Miaolin
March 10 marked the official arrival of meteorological spring in Hangzhou, signaling the start of the early tea season in Zhejiang Province. As China’s tea capital, the city offers more than just spring blossoms--it beckons visitors to savor the year’s first tea harvest.
Here are four immersive tea-themed itineraries. For tea enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, these routes offer a chance to immerse themselves in Hangzhou’s rich tea heritage at places where aromatic leaves intertwine with spring’s vitality.
West Lake circuit
Route: Waitongwu Ancient Village → Tongwu Village （Fan Shenghua Tea Studio） → Hangzhou Meilong Tea Culture Co. （Nine-Bend Red Plum ICH Workshop） → Hejia Village Cycling Trail → Osmanthus Longjing Tea Workshop
Highlights: Stroll through Waitongwu’s tea terraces, observe tea master Fan Shenghua’s traditional roasting techniques in Tongwu Village, then bike along Hejia’s cliffside trail, acclaimed as Hangzhou’s “most photogenic route”. Conclude by blending custom teas at a UNESCO-recognized workshop, while sampling Osmanthus Longjing Tea varieties.
Xiaoshan exploration
Route: Jinhua Town Tea Plantation → Daicun Town’s Sanqing Tea Manor
Highlights: Harvest spring buds at Jinhua’s organic fields under artisan guidance, learn the art of crafting round tea cakes, and enjoy farm activities like mushroom and strawberry picking. In the afternoon, unwind at Sanqing Tea Manor’s panoramic terraces for meditative tastings amidst mist-clad hills.
Fuyang charm
Route: Chunjian Tea Hiking Trail → Bashan “Sea of Tea” → Anding Heritage Village
Highlights: Trek through Chunjian’s tea-themed educational park to Bashan’s undulating plantations, featured in The Hunting drama series. At Anding, explore the “Sky Mirror” lake, millennium-old tea groves, and pine-needle footpaths while sipping cliff-grown brews.
Chun’an adventure
Route: Millennial Tea Tree King → Tea-Picking Zones → Jiukeng Tea Museum → Artisan Workshop → Tea-Themed Culinary & Fashion Hub
Highlights: Nestled in pristine forests, Jiukeng is home to Zhejiang’s only organic tea town. Tick off the 1,000-year-old Tea Tree King, delve into tea history at the museum, and experiment with tea-infused cuisine and apparel at the innovation center.