Longjing Village Near Shanghai: A Tea-Scented Escape Into a Thousand Years of Eastern Aesthetics
Why Longjing Village Near Shanghai Should Be Your Next Day Trip
Just two hours from downtown Shanghai, Longjing Village near Shanghai (in Hangzhou) offers a peaceful world of tea mountains, white-walled farmhouses, and a soothing fragrance that lingers in the air. Famous as the core origin of West Lake Longjing Tea, this village feels like stepping into a living scroll of Chinese ink-wash art.
If you’re planning a day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou, love quiet nature spots, or want to experience an authentic Chinese tea village, Longjing is one of the easiest and most rewarding places to visit.
Five Reasons Longjing Village Is Worth the Trip
1. A Thousand-Year Tea Culture You Can Touch
Tea has been grown here since the Tang Dynasty and was praised by Lu Yu in The Classic of Tea. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong personally visited the village and designated the tea bushes at Hugong Temple as the original Eighteen Imperial Tea Trees—a site still preserved today.
What you can do:
- Pick tea leaves with local farmers (best in March–April). They teach you the “one bud, one leaf” technique.
- Watch a hand-pan-firing demonstration, where tea masters shake, press, and toss the leaves to create that signature Longjing aroma.
- Visit the China National Tea Museum (Longjing Branch) to learn how Chinese tea evolved over a millennium.
2. One of Hangzhou’s Best Hiking & Nature Spots
Surrounded by peaks, rivers, and layered tea terraces, Longjing Village is one of the best nature escapes near Shanghai.
For hikers:
- Walk the scenic Shili Langdang Ancient Trail (about 5 km). From the top, you’ll see rolling tea fields blending into the West Lake skyline.
- Explore Nine Streams and Eighteen Gullies, a peaceful creekside path where you hop over stones and listen to flowing water.
For easy sightseeing:
Electric shuttle cars (about ¥30) take you through the plantations with great photo stops.
3. Tea-Inspired Local Dishes
The village restaurants turn Longjing tea into creative dishes:
- Longjing Shrimp — sweet river shrimp fried with fresh tea buds
- Tea-Smoked Chicken — crispy on the outside, tender inside
- Osmanthus Longjing Rice Wine — fragrant and smooth
- Tea Snack Platters — green tea mochi, Longjing shortbread, and more
Farm stays in Longjing Village (¥50–¥100 per person) offer home-style meals. The well-known Longjing Old Brand restaurant is a consistent local favorite.
4. Crafts & Souvenirs You Won’t Find Elsewhere
Longjing Village mixes tradition with creative craftsmanship:
- Buy Pre-Qingming Longjing Tea, freshly packed by farmers using bamboo tubes or handmade paper.
- Join a small pottery workshop to make your own teacup.
- Take home tea-scented soaps, essential oils, candles, or celadon tea sets.
- Browse Longjing Market (Saturdays), where heritage artisans and indie designers sell handmade goods.
5. Four Seasons, Four Different Moods
- Spring (Mar–May): Best Longjing tea picking season
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Cool streams at Nine Streams & Eighteen Gullies
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Osmanthus aroma throughout the hills
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Snow-covered tea terraces—perfect for photography
How to Visit Longjing Village From Shanghai
By Car
About two hours from downtown Shanghai. Navigate to “Longjing Village, Xihu District, Hangzhou.”
Parking is available (around ¥10/hour).
By High-Speed Rail + Taxi
- Shanghai Hongqiao → Hangzhou East (≈1 hour)
- Taxi to Longjing Village (≈30 mins, ¥50)
Budget-friendly option:
Metro Line 1 → Longxiangqiao → Bus 27 → “Longjing Tea House” stop.
Costs
- Village entrance: Free
- Eighteen Imperial Tea Trees site: ¥10
- Tea picking experience (seasonal): varies
Best Way to Spend the Day
- Morning: Tea picking or hiking
- Lunch: Farmhouse restaurant
- Afternoon: Tea market + creative shops
- Evening: Gradual return to Shanghai
Longjing Village: Where Nature and Culture Slow You Down
In Longjing Village, you’ll breathe cleaner air, meet warm-hearted tea farmers, and feel a gentle pause from city life. The rhythms of the tea fields tell the story of harmony between people and nature—a core idea in Chinese philosophy.
When Shanghai feels overwhelming, come to Longjing Village near Shanghai. One cup of tea, one quiet trail, and one slow afternoon might be exactly the reset you need. And if you’re planning more places to see in the city, check out my page on Shanghai Tourist Attractions for more ideas.
