Hangzhou produces China’s most famous green tea — Longjing (龙井, “Dragon Well”) — and the experience of visiting the plantation villages in the hills above the West Lake is one of China’s most rewarding sensory journeys: rows of tea bushes extending up hillsides, the toasty warm smell of hand-roasted fresh leaves, and the gentle floral sweetness of tea brewed from leaves picked hours earlier.
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Open Table of contents
Understanding Longjing Tea
What makes it special
Longjing is a pan-fired (炒制) green tea, distinguished from most other Chinese green teas by:
- Flat, pressed leaves: unlike rolled or twisted teas, Longjing leaves are flattened during roasting
- Jade-green colour and glossy surface
- Sweet, vegetal, slightly nutty flavour: notes of toasted chestnut, fresh grass, and light sweetness
- Low bitterness: correctly brewed Longjing should never taste bitter
The harvest and grades
Pre-Qingming (明前) — tea harvested before the Qingming Festival (清明节, April 4–6 each year). The first buds of spring; the most delicate, expensive, and prized. A single bud and one leaf (一芽一叶) is the highest grade.
Pre-Grain Rain (雨前) — harvested before the Grain Rain solar term (谷雨, April 20–21). Still excellent; more accessible pricing.
Regular season tea — harvested throughout the season (April–October). Quality varies; best for daily drinking.
Geographic designations
West Lake Longjing (西湖龙井) — grown in five villages immediately around the West Lake. Protected geographical indication; these are the most prized and expensive.
The five core production villages:
- Shifeng (狮峰) — Lion Peak; considered the finest terroir
- Longjing (龙井) — the eponymous village
- Yunqi (云栖) — Cloud Rest
- Hupao (虎跑) — Tiger Run
- Meijiawu (梅家坞) — Plum Family Hollow
Zhejiang Longjing / Qiantang Longjing — same cultivar grown in other parts of Zhejiang. Good quality, less expensive, often sold as “Longjing” without geographic qualification.
Visiting the Tea Villages
Meijiawu Village (梅家坞)
How to get there: Bus 103 from West Lake area (30 minutes); DiDi ¥25–¥35 from Westlake.
Meijiawu is the most visitor-friendly tea village — a long valley with tea houses, farm restaurants, and shops lining both sides of a stream. Families offer free tea tastings and tours of their plantations. It’s commercial but genuinely beautiful.
What to do here:
- Walk the valley (30 minutes one-way) observing the plantation rows
- Accept invitations for tea tastings at family farms (they will try to sell you tea; this is expected and reasonable)
- Watch (or participate in) pan-roasting demonstrations during harvest season (April–May primarily)
- Have lunch at a farmhouse restaurant (农家菜) — fresh mountain vegetables, bamboo shoots, local river fish
Longjing Village (龙井村)
The original village, up in the hills. Slightly less commercial than Meijiawu; smaller, more atmospheric. The famous Hu Gong Temple (胡公庙) tea tree — said to have been given imperial gift status by Emperor Qianlong — is here.
Getting here: Bus 27 from the West Lake area, or a 40-minute uphill walk from the lake. DiDi can go directly to the village.
Shifeng (狮峰)
Higher altitude, less accessible to casual visitors. To reach the genuine Shifeng plantation you need a guide or local contact; much of what’s sold as “Shifeng Longjing” in tourist areas has not been grown there.
How to Buy Longjing Tea Without Getting Cheated
The Longjing tea tourist experience has a significant fraud dimension: most “West Lake Longjing” sold in tourist shops, Longjing Village street stalls, and even some reputable-looking shops is not genuine West Lake-designation tea. The price difference is vast: genuine pre-Qingming Shifeng Longjing can cost ¥3,000–¥10,000 per 500g; tourist-grade “Longjing” is ¥100–¥300 per 500g.
How to avoid fraudulent tea
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Buy from farmers directly in the villages — buy from the family that shows you their plantation. Ask to see the roasting process. If they’re making it themselves, it’s likely genuine, though possibly not from the most prized terroir.
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Reasonable pricing signals authenticity: If someone offers you “premium Shifeng Longjing” for ¥200/100g, they are either lying about origin or the tea is not what they claim.
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Check the leaf shape: Genuine Longjing leaves should be flat and smooth with an even green-yellow colour. Beware leaves that are bright neon green (artificially coloured), have stems attached, or are unevenly shaped.
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Haggling: Tea prices in villages are negotiable. Start at 60% of the first asking price; expect to settle at 75–80%.
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Tea certification shops (有机认证): Some shops display organic certification and geographical indication certificates. These provide some assurance but don’t guarantee origin-specific terroir claims.
Recommended purchases
For genuine Longjing without extreme expense:
- First-flush Meijiawu Longjing (雨前梅家坞): ¥200–¥400 per 100g for good quality
- Regular-season West Lake Longjing: ¥100–¥200 per 100g for daily drinking quality
- Gift tins (礼品装): Packaged tea in attractive tins is excellent for gifts; the tea quality in reputable brands is consistent
Tea Ceremony Experiences
Formal tea ceremony (茶道体验)
Several tea houses in Hangzhou offer structured tea ceremony experiences:
China Tea Museum (中国茶叶博物馆) — in the Double Peak area near the tea villages. Permanent exhibition on Chinese tea culture; demonstration ceremonies daily. Admission to museum ¥30–¥60 depending on exhibition.
Dragon Well Manor (法云安缦 / 龙井草堂) — high-end tea ceremony experience at the luxury Amanfayun resort in the tea village area. Very expensive; for special occasions.
Simple tasting at a tea house
In any tea village, family-run tea houses charge ¥20–¥50 per person for a “tasting session” — you sit in a courtyard or indoor space, the host prepares several cups of Longjing in the traditional gongfu style, and explains the tea as you drink. Atmosphere varies from elegant (Longjing Village) to simple (Meijiawu farmhouse).
Spring Tea Season (April) Timing
When to visit for the best experience:
- Late March – early April: fields turn intensely green; picking begins in the warmest years
- First week of April: peak picking season for the highest grades; most atmospheric, most crowded
- April 4–20: height of the picking season; tea roasting demonstrations most frequent
- Late April – May: “Grain Rain” tea; beautiful and accessible; crowds thin after Golden Week
If visiting Hangzhou in non-spring months, the tea villages are still beautiful, but the picking activity and fresh roasting smell that make the experience distinctive are absent.
Pairing Longjing with Food
Longjing’s light, sweet profile pairs well with:
- Freshwater fish and shrimp (the local dish “Longjing Shrimp” 龙井虾仁 is a classic Hangzhou recipe)
- Light tofu and vegetable dishes
- Steamed bread and light pastries
- Avoid: strong meats, heavily spiced foods, and black tea-style strong flavours
Longjing Shrimp (龙井虾仁): Hangzhou’s signature dish — fresh river shrimp stir-fried with newly picked Longjing tea leaves. Available at better Hangzhou restaurants from April onwards (requires fresh-season tea leaves).
Last updated: May 2026 · Tea prices and seasonal availability fluctuate year to year depending on harvest conditions.