Meeting Point

Hotel/Station

Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak

Begin your day at one of China's most revered Buddhist temples, nestled deep in a forested valley west of the city. Feilai Peak, just outside the temple gates, is carved with over 470 stone Buddha figures dating back to the 10th century — a breathtaking open-air gallery of ancient faith. Inside Lingyin Temple, incense drifts through towering halls where monks have prayed for over 1,700 years. A peaceful and awe-inspiring start to your Hangzhou journey.

China National Tea Museum (Shuangfeng Campus)

Step into the world's only national museum dedicated entirely to tea. Set among rolling tea gardens in the hills southwest of West Lake, the Shuangfeng Campus is a serene open-air experience where architecture blends seamlessly into the landscape. Explore galleries tracing 5,000 years of Chinese tea history — from ancient cultivation and trade routes to the art of the tea ceremony. Then step outside and find yourself surrounded by the very gardens that inspired it all. For tea lovers and curious minds alike, this is where culture steeped in leaves truly comes alive.

Longjing Village & the 18 Imperial Tea Trees

Just a short walk from the Tea Museum lies the birthplace of China's most celebrated green tea. Longjing Village has been producing the legendary Dragon Well tea for over 1,000 years, and at its heart stand 18 tea trees once designated as imperial tribute by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. These ancient trees still produce leaves today — among the most prized in the world. Stroll through terraced hillside gardens, watch local farmers pan-fry fresh leaves by hand, and if the season is right, try picking a few yourself. A living piece of Chinese tea heritage

Longjing Tea Terraces & Lunch at a Local Farmhouse

After exploring the imperial tea trees, take a leisurely stroll through the terraced tea gardens that have shaped this hillside for centuries. The views across the green rows of tea bushes, framed by misty hills, are quintessentially Hangzhou. Settle in for lunch at a family-run farmhouse restaurant nestled among the gardens — a chance to taste honest local cooking: think Longjing shrimp, bamboo shoot stir-fry, and steamed river fish, all paired with a fresh cup of tea picked just steps away. Simple, unhurried, and deeply local.

Hangzhou Arts & Crafts Museum and Fan Museum

Housed in a beautifully restored complex along the Grand Canal, these twin museums celebrate the crafts that made Hangzhou famous across dynasties. The Arts & Crafts Museum showcases the city's mastery of silk weaving, lacquerware, embroidery, and goldwork — many pieces so intricate they blur the line between craft and fine art. Next door, the Fan Museum tells the delicate story of the folding fan: from its origins as a court accessory to a canvas for poetry and painting. Watch live demonstrations by master artisans, and browse the finest examples of a tradition still very much alive today.

Gongchen Bridge & the Ancient Grand Canal

End your day at the southern terminus of the Grand Canal — one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, stretching over 1,700 km from Hangzhou to Beijing. Gongchen Bridge, a graceful three-arch stone bridge built in 1631, has watched merchants, boats, and dynasties pass beneath it for nearly 400 years. Stroll along the restored canal-side promenade, watch wooden boats drift past old warehouses now humming with teahouses and local life, and feel the quieter, unhurried pulse of a Hangzhou most visitors never find. A perfect ending to a day spent deep in the city's soul.

Ending Point

Hotel/Station