China Tea Discovery

After breakfast at the hotel, drive about 1.5 - 2 hours to Suzhou, visit the Master of Net Garden, which is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet it is the most impressive because of its use of space which creates the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size. In the afternoon, head to Tiger Hill, which is famous for the jasmine tea. With over 1000 year's history, Jasmine tea produced in Tiger Hill is one of the best four scented teas of China. You will have chance to view the tea processing (best time is Autumn) and taste. If time permit after the visit, stroll along Pingjiang River, a part of the Grand Canal system to learn local lifestyle. 

Meal: B, L

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to nearby West Mountain to visit the Biluochun Tea Garden, pick tea at the garden with tea farmers, see the whole process how to make green tea, and then taste the Biluochun green tea. Lunch will be taken at the local farmers’ home. In the afternoon, drive to Wuxi, visit Tortoise Head Garden, and then walk around the Taihu Lake. 

Meal: B, L

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yixing Hao Tea Garden, walk around the tea garden, learn about Hao Tea (one of the green tea) and taste the tea. Drive about 1 hour to Yixing, visit the Dingsu Town (Purple Sand Village, and Purple Sand museum -Monday closely). And then visit the Dragon Kiln in Qianshu Village – the last dragon kiln in China; learn about the Purple sand teapots. Try the local green tea in a local family. Later today, take high speed train to Hangzhou.

Meal: B, L

After breakfast at the hotel, take a walk by the West Lake, where you might want to take a short crsuise on the lake (optional). Later, head to Longjing Village to visit the tea farm and learn how this most famous green tea is processed from tea leaves to a cup of tea soup. Lunch will be in a restaurant in the village, famous for foods cooked with tea. In the afternoon, you will visit the Hangzhou Tea Museum (closed on Monday) for more knowledge of Chinese tea cultures. Overnight at Hangzhou. 

Meal: B, L

Take high speed train to Huangshan in the morning. Meet you guide upon arrival and transfer to hotel privately. Drive to Qimen to see the well-known Qimen Black Tea processing. Later, visit the Hongcun village in the afternoon, where the Oscar Winner "Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was filmed. Overnight in the city.  

Meal: B, L

One day Yellow Mountain Tour: take 1.5 hours drive to the foot of the mountain. Ascend the eastern side of the mountain by cable car, and then begin to 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. Later descend the mountain (by cable carVisit the Yellow Mountain)

Meal: B, L

After breakfast at the hotel, start from the hotel around 7:00am, drive about 2 hours to Beidamen Yanghu Lake Tea Garden Base– Huangshan Maofeng which is one of the green tea, trekking about 1.5 hours up to the Tea Garden Base. You can see local farmers picking tea and making tea, and then trekking about 1.5 hours down the mountain. Take high speed train to Wyishan in the late afternoon.

Meal: B, L

In the afternoon, visit Dahongpao (Red Gown) and Water Curtain Cave – about 3 hours, you will see Dahongpao’s mother bush, which is over 350 years old, in a special park. On the way back from Water Curtain Cave, you can see a lot of tea gardens on the rock, where you can learn about rock tea.

Meal: B, L

Full day visit Wuyishan today. you will visit Tianyou Mountain (Wu Yi Mountain), which is the birthplace of China’s rock oolongs. You need to up and down the mountain, about 3.5 hours.  Later, you'll float along the Nine Curves River in a bamboo boat to enjoy the gorgeous scenery. On the boat, you’ll have a chance to absorb the scenery and learn why this particular area is so well suited for oolong tea. In the afternoon, you will visit Royal Tea Garden and learn about the history of Oolong Tea.

Meal: B, L

Take high speed train to Xiamen in the morning. Visit Gulang Island in the afternoon.

Meal: B, L

In the morning, drive about 2hrs to Anxi, the capital of Tieguanyin. Visit Xiping Village, the home of the original Tieguanyin bush; then visit Tieguanyin Cultural Garden and Weiyin Tea Factory to the history and production methods of Tieguanyin. Later today, drive back to Xiamen. 

Meal: B, L

Today we will drive about 3 hours to explore the China Fujian Tulou – Yongding Hakka Earth Buildings, one of the world cultural heritages. Visit the King of Tulou – Chengqi Lou and the nearby other Hakka House.  

Meal: B, L

In the morning, transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Kunming. 

Upon arrival at Kunming airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. After that, you will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. Enjoy a welcoming dinner of Yunnan Flavoring food with crossing Bridge Rice Noodle at local Restaurant. Overnight in Kunming. 

Meal: B, D

This morning drive to visit the West Hill and Dragon Gate. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Puer City. Upon arrival in Puer city, be met by the local guide and transfer to your hotel for check in. Free at leisure in the evening. Overnight in Puer.  

Meal: B, L

In the morning, drive to Puer Tea Gardens, overlooking Puer city. You will explore the Chinese Tea Institute and their Library of dried tea leaves before being whisked off to a tea tasting and more interviews. Visit the Puer Tea Factory and experience how local people cook the Puer Tea Cakes. 

In the afternoon, transfer around 2 hours to Jinghong City, and then continue the driving to Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden in Mengla County. Overnight at Menglun. 

Meal: B, L, D

After the simple Chinese Breakfast, visit Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. Situated 103 kilometers, or 3 hour ride, from Jinghong, the Tropical Botanical Garden was founded in 1958 and is currently playing an important role in research in the areas of medicinal plants, taxonomy, economic plants and biochemistry. This garden proudly holds 3,000 species of plants, one of the richest botanical concentrations all over the world. 

After visiting Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden, drive along a winding road through a tropical rain forest and stopped briefly at a rubber tree orchard on the way to Yiwu. Take a bumpy dirt road to see an 800 years old tea tree overlooking a gorgeous lush valley in Zhengshan Mountain. On the way back, you can walk along one part of the Tea Horse Trail which begins in Yiwu village and goes all the way to Tibet. Today’s last stop is Mr. He Tian Neng’s Old Tea Workshop where you can drink tea and see the stone blocks used to press tea cakes. If time permits, Mr. He will take you to his newer workshop where you watch as workers make puer tea cakes by hand using methods. Overnight in Yiwu. 

Meal: B, L, D

Today we will make our own puer tea cakes at a small Cha Ma Shi Factory in Youle, another of the 6 famous puer tea mountains. After steaming, pressing and wrapping 2 cakes each we really got to experience how naturally simple the whole process is compared to other types of tea which are fried, rolled and processed substantially more. The only downside for puer cakes is the lengthy aging process which is necessary for the deep rich taste to develop. From this tea factory we will travel to DaDuGang, the owner of the largest tea plantation in Asia. We will have some tea with the owner of DaDuGang. After that, transfer back to Jinghong city for overnight. 

Meal: B, L

Transfer to Jinghong airport for your flight to next destination. 

Meal: B

End of service.