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13 days: 17th April - 30th April 2024
Shanghai - Yixing - Mo Gan Mountain - Long Jing - Yellow Mountain - Wu Yi Mountain
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This Tea Tour is organised and led by Juyan, the owner of the Chinese Tea Company and offers an exclusive opportunity to delve into the intricate world of tea cultivation, processing, and production. She will take you to tea gardens, tea factories and potteries’ workshop where she has developed deep friendships over the years, and explain to you all the little details that you would like to know about tea cultivation and productions, to experience China through the eyes of real masters, and also taste many different teas that you will never be able to find outside of China. She will also walk you through some of the beautiful mountains, valleys, cities and towns. The dates are specifically chosen to allow visitors to witness the tea harvest season throughout southeastern China ensuring you witness and possibly even participate in this crucial stage of tea production.
We welcome you to Shanghai from your own country of departure. So you will need to arrive in Shanghai on 16th or 17th morning. We pick you up from your hotel, visit Yu Garden - a Garden Oasis in the Center of Shanghai's Old City and Yuyuan Bazaar. We then have a dinner in the Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant to experience the iconic taste of Shanghai famous Xiao Long Bao. Congratulations!... Your Tea Tour of China has REALLY started now!
Our private chauffeur will drive us all from Shanghai to Yixing in China's southern Jiangsu province. The three-hour drive will let you see the transition from urban energy of Shanghai to the natural beauty of Jiangsu province. Exploring the bamboo forest after lunch will be refreshing. The tall, swaying bamboo stalks create an almost magical atmosphere, and taking a hike would be a perfect way to stretch and unwind after the drive.
Today it is all about Yixing teapots. In the morning, we travel back in time and visit a 600-year-old 'Dragon Kiln' that has been used for centuries (and is still very much in use today) to fire the Yixing Teapots that are made from the Zisha clay that is only found in the hills of this area. We then visit one of the China's top Yixing Teapot Grand Master Dong Ya Fang and her daughter Zhou Shu Yuan’s studio which many of you already have their collections. They will show you the process of making a Yixing Teapot. It's then time for you to get your hands dirty as you will get the opportunity to make your very own Yixing Teapot with their guidance and help.
OK... yesterday you made a teapot, you now need something to brew in it - so today, our private chauffeur will drive us all to Mo Gan Mountain in Deqing County where they grow some awesome green, yellow and red teas. We will arrive just in time to share some amazing, freshly prepared lunch alongside all the tea pickers/processors at our tea farmers factory. Make sure you eat your fill because after lunch its time for you to earn your keep, by going into the organic tea garden and picking tea. After filling your tea baskets with freshly picked leaves you will journey down the mountain with the other tea pickers to drop the tea off at the factory. You will then see how green tea is processed. Of course, we will taste many of their amazing teas.
See that photo at the top of this page? The one with the pagoda on a lake and a mountain just visible though the haze in the distance, beautiful, isn't it? Well today you are visiting there and you are going to fall in love with the place.
Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province and is one of the seven ancient capitals of China with its beautiful 'West Lake', mountains and lush vegetation. It has become a world-famous destination and is known as "paradise on earth".
Today, we take a break from doing physical labour like making teapots and picking tea by taking a leisurely stroll around the stunning West Lake. You will see just how beautiful China can be. After the lake we will go and eat in 'Old China' Street on He Fang Street and also visit the night market.
In the morning we will visit China's National Tea Museum. Next, it's onto the beautiful and tranquil Long Jing Village. Yes, you guessed it, this is where they grow one of China most famous and loved teas: Long Jing - aka 'Dragon Well Green Tea'.
We will visit our Long Jing tea farmer's house where the family will treat us to a homemade meal prepared and cooked fresh by them - the food is amazing. We can sit outside on the terrace that has amazing views of Long Jing's idyllic tea terraces that is roamed by straw hatted tea pickers. While we wait for the food to be prepared, we can sample the latest and best harvest of tea that they have just picked and processed. After eating and drinking tea, we will walk up to Longjing Imperial Tea Garden and then on to the Shi Feng Mountain for their tea plantation.
Today we have to take a bit of a drive as we are leaving Hangzhou and head to Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain). Once we arrived, we take the cable car to the top of the Yellow Mountain. We will check-in to your hotel located on top of this magnificent mountain, but this is an excellent time to take a short walk in the area around the hotel itself and see some truly beautiful views. We will stay at the top of the mountain overnight.
Put on your hiking boots, wear your cagoule (rain jacket for our American, cousins) and top up your tea flask. Today is all about enjoying the beautiful view of Yellow mountain but... its gonna be painful... prepare for a long walk with many steps to ascend and descend. (Its not that hard really and there are short cuts and also people to carry you in sedan chairs)
Today we would advise everyone to wake at 4am and then make their way to the edge of the mountain to watch the sunrise. It is breathtaking... if it isn't raining or cloudy. After that, we will back to the hotel to have breakfast and then begin our 7km (4.3 mile) hike to the western side of the mountain.On the hike we will take in Yellow Mountain's most spectacular views and ascend to its highest peak - Lotus Peak. Finally, we will take the cable car down to the bottom of the mountain.
It's going to be a long drive before we arrive in at our next destination: Wuyi mountain - home to one of my favourite teas - Wuyi Rock tea. This is probably one of my favourite areas of China. I know we keep using the words 'stunning' and 'beautiful' and 'breathtaking' but you cannot deny that Wuyi is all these things and more.
We will broadly say to our Wu Yi Rock tea farmers family and meet the head of the family Master Wu who is the sixth generation of his family to process their divine Wuyi Rock Teas... it's safe to say.. they got their processing techniques 'to a T'!
We will taste many of their beautiful Wu Yi Rock Teas.
In the morning we enter the heart of Wu Yi Mountain in the Zheng Yan area for the Da Hong Pao mother bush and other precious Wuyi cultivars used in crafting rock teas. This is where we’ll immerse ourselves in the intricate microenvironments, allowing us to understand the unique aroma and texture of the rocks, the softness of the moss, and the abundance of diverse plant that give Rock tea’s unique flavour and taste. In the afternoon back to the tea factory and see the tea process and continue our tea tasting, At this point, because of everything you will have experienced in the Wuyi Mountains you will really understand what 'terroir' means. You will taste everything you have seen and experienced in one single cup of Wuyi tea - and forever when you drink another Wuyi you will always remember your walk through the mountains.
In the morning we will take bamboo river raft cruise through the meandering Nine Curves river and enjoy the gorgeous scenery... and a few rapids. In the afternoon, head to another side of Wu Yi mountain for more tea gardens where can only access by locals.
In the evening, if you wish, you could go and watch the show, called "Impression Da Hong Pao' is an outdoor theatrical performance and like nothing you have ever seen before - It's hard to put into words, its a well choreographed performance of music, dance, theatre, fireworks and a spectacular light show that used the surrounding mountains.
In the morning we visit my red tea farmer for their beautiful Red Teas of Wuyi mountain. It's a delightful opportunity to savour a variety of red teas, each offering its unique flavour. We'll be privileged to taste one of the most esteemed and treasured varieties: Jin Jun Mei.
In the afternoon, we visit Xia Mei Ancient village which used to be a center of tea trade during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). We learn the history of the village where the Ancient Tea Road began. Or you could choose to explore the tea market where you could purchase more teas and tea wares.
Visiting local tea market in the morning, this will be your last chance to pick up something to bring back home. We will then drive back to Shanghai Pudong International airport. You will stay at the hotel near to the airport or to your hotel if you are stay longer in china.
Duration:13 days
Date: from 17th April to 29th April 2024
Cost and booking:please contact us for enquiries.
Our travel package covers: 13 nights hotel room (mainly in 4 stars); all meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner; domestic transportation (we have a private chauffeur), entrance fees for parks and mountains and other scheduled activities.
Tour cost does not include: International flights to and from Shanghai, visas arrangements (but we are happy to advise you in booking your flight to China and procuring your visa) travel insurance, medical insurance and immunisations, optional tours, shows, tips and personal expenses.
Tour group size: Maximum 8 people. This is a very small group that allows personal interaction, education and an experience to make this a remarkable and memorable tour.
If you are interested in finding out more information on The Chinese Tea Company Tea Tour of China, have any questions or would like to book a place on our next tour, please fill in the form to the right or call us on +44 (0) 2089600096.
