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12 days in China
Our 2020 tour will take place between the 18th April and 29th April 2020.
We meet you at the airport/hotel and you will meet your fellow adventurers.... Congratulations! Your Tea Tour of China has officially started!
Our private chauffeur will then drive us all from Shanghai to Yixing in China's southern Jiangsu province. For may of you, this will be your first visit to China, so sit back, relax and take in the sights. (Actually, we are in China... best buckle in!)
You will be whisked from Shanghai's slightly futuristic, 'Blade Runner esq' skyline that juxtaposes with the elegant French concession that juxtaposes against 'old China' along one of China's expressway's that will gently transport us from high-tech Shanghai through the beautiful Chinese country side and then on to the wonderful City of Yixing.
Once we arrive, we will check into our luxurious hotel, you will have your first real Chinese meal for lunch and then take a hike into a stunning bamboo forest. Congratulations!... Your Tea Tour of China has REALLY started now!
Today it is all about Yixing teapots. Yixing is famous for it's unglazed clay teapots; more commonly knows as Yixing Teapots and very beautiful they are too.
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 go and visit one of the China's top Yixing Teapot Grand Masters - Dong Ya Fang - who 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 our very own Yixing Teapot with her guidance and help from her up-and-coming students.
Trust us, this is a very unique and profound experience as not only do you get expert tuition from one of China's most respected Teapot masters (who also happens to be very kind and lovely lady) but you also get to make your own with your very own hands.
OK... yesterday you made a teapot, you now need something to brew in it - so today, our private chauffeur will drive us all to Mount Mogan in Deqing County where they grow some awesome Green and Yellow 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 (Yellow tea too, if they are making it on that day).
After a few hours toiling in the Organic tea garden you will have worked up quite a thirst so we will quench it by tasting different grades of Green, Yellow and maybe Red teas that they make in that factory.
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 are you 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 that boasts an astonishing range of teas and is host to lovely displays that explain the history of tea cultivation in China. Behind the Museum is a tea plantation that you can also visit.
Next, it's onto the beautiful and tranquil Longjing 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'.
Longjing Village is a very beautiful and peaceful town surrounded by hilly tea terraces on each side and is rural with traditional-style houses. This is the real deal, no storefronts or tourist tea houses here, this is where the tea farmers work and live. Even though Longjing village it is only a stones throw away from the beautiful but busy city of Hangzhou it couldn't be more different, they are like worlds apart.
We will visit our Longjing tea farmer's house where he and his family will treat us to a local, home made meal prepared and cooked fresh by them - the food is amazing. We can sit outside on the terrace that has amazing views of Longjing'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 our farmers's tea plantation and harvest some tea leaves for the farmer while enjoying the amazing scenery and peaceful surroundings.
Today we have to take a bit of a drive, but don't worry, you will be transported in luxury and the passing scenery is beautiful... but believe us, it's gonna be well worth it when you find out what is to meet you at the end of this road journey.
Our chauffeur will drive us from Hangzhou to the foot of the mighty Huangshan Mountains, one of China's most famous mountains. Take a look at the photo to the right.. yep you are going to be staying the night up there... We told you it will be worth it didn't we.
After having a quick lunch, we will take the cable car to the top of the Huangshan Mountain. It will be late afternoon by the time you have checked-in to your hotel located on top of this magnificent mountain range 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 over night.
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 Huangshan 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 Huangshan 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 visit our Wuyi 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.
Xia Mei Ancient Village is part of the Wuyi Mountain World Heritage Site and is where the Ancient Tea road began.
After lunch at the Xia Mei Village, we will head to the river for bamboo river raft cruise through the meandering Nine Curves river and enjoy the gorgeous scenery... and a few rapids.
The bamboo raft cruise will offer you a unique view to get a proper appreciation and understanding of why this particular area is so well suited for Oolong tea.
In the evening, it's time for a show. '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 - yes I said mountains - as a canvas to paint images and light on to - You got to see it for yourselves to believe it - you will get a tear in your eye at the beauty of the performance.
Today we take a long but easy and relaxing walk up into the Wuyi Mountains and tea plantations to visit the Da Hong Pao mother bush, which is over 350 years old and STILL growing on the side of a cliff. It is guarded by a lovely dog... well I think the dog guards it... could have been a stray, but he was a nice enough dog and I have seen him in the same place for the last few years now.
We then walk further into the mountains and through many, many tea gardens hosting an obscene number of different Oolong's. We will eventually end up at 'Water Curtain Cave' where you will notice many different variety of tea bushes that have been planted on the side of a rock or on the side of the path.
In the afternoon we will visit our Oolong Tea farmer's tea tasting room, where we will have a proper tasting session of different types of Rock Teas and we play a game where we try and recognise the differences among each teas. My husband got 0 out of 10 once!
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.
Today we follow the tea pickers to the tea plantation and harvest tea leaves from their tea plantation. You will be taught what are the right leaves to pick. After you have collected your basket full we head back to tea factory and observe how an Oolong tea is made step by step.
We head back to the tea tasting room again and this time you will learn how to brew Rock Teas in Gong Fu Tea method.
Visiting local tea market in the morning, this will be you last chance to pick up something to bring back home. We will have early lunch and then drive back to Shanghai Pudong International airport. You will stay at the hotel near to the airport.
Date: 18th April – 29th April 2020
Cost: £2,850 per person or £5,300 for a couple (sharing).
Includes: 4 Star Hotel room, breakfast, lunch and dinner, domestic transportation (we have a private chauffeur), entrance fees for shows and other scheduled activities.
Deposit: £250.00 non-refundable deposit. Full payment is due by the 20th February 2020. If WE have to cancel the tour for any reason we will refund your deposit in full.
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. Please be aware, we only have 8 places per trip so book early to avoid disappointment.
