Living Like a Local in Hangzhou: Tea Farms

If you've ever dreamed of sipping fresh Longjing tea while surrounded by emerald-green terraced hills, then living like a local in Hangzhou’s tea farms is your golden ticket. Forget the crowded West Lake boardwalks—true magic happens in the misty villages of Meijiawu and Longjing Village, where tea isn’t just a drink—it’s a way of life.

Hangzhou produces over 2,600 tons of Longjing (Dragon Well) tea annually, with nearly 90% grown within a 30-kilometer radius of the city. But here’s the insider scoop: only authentic 'West Lake Longjing' carries the coveted geographical indication label. That means real-deal tea lovers head straight to the source—and so should you.

Staying in a family-run farmhouse lets you wake up to rooster calls, not traffic horns. Locals rise early to hand-pick tender tea leaves between March and April—the prime harvesting season. Want to try your hand at it? Most homestays offer tea plucking experiences for just ¥80–120 per person, including lunch made with garden-fresh ingredients.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. After gathering the leaves, join a traditional stir-frying session. Using massive iron pans, farmers heat and shape the leaves by hand—a skill passed down generations. One kilogram of premium Longjing takes about 45,000 individual buds and six hours of meticulous work. No wonder top-tier batches sell for over ¥5,000/kg!

Tea Farm Stay Comparison (2024)

Pro tip: Book at least four weeks ahead if visiting during Qingming Festival (early April)—this marks the start of the finest tea harvest, and spots fill fast.

And when you're not deep in tea culture, rent an e-bike (¥30/day) to weave through bamboo-lined paths, or hike up Lion Peak for panoramic views that’ll make your Instagram explode—with zero filters needed.

Living like a local here isn’t about luxury spas or five-star buffets. It’s waking up to steam rising off tea fields, learning the rhythm of the seasons, and tasting tea so fresh it sings on your tongue. In Hangzhou’s highlands, every cup tells a story—will yours be part of it?