Travel more: Meijiawu Village — 600-year-old tea culture town

Most people immediately think of the renowned West Lake when talking about Hangzhou. Nestled along the western edge of the West Lake Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a 600-year-old tea culture town.

Meijiawu Village, surrounded by verdant hills, is well-known for being the birthplace of Longjing tea, sometimes referred to as Dragon Well tea, a kind of green tea that the Chinese have long loved.

Nowadays, growing and selling tea is the main source of income for practically every villager in Meijiawu. Tea fields, with their wonderfully invigorating scent, blanket the entire village. Stepping outside and enjoying the fresh air is a terrific idea.

Fresh tea leaves are picked by the villagers in the spring. Guests are welcome to assist with the selection and processing. After that, they just enjoy a cup of fragrant, pure Longjing tea, engage in conversation with the locals, or play a few games of mahjong, which is one of the most well-liked pastimes in China.

Meijiawu is a great spot to spend a leisurely day in Hangzhou and get a taste of the local way of life. The tea culture village gains additional flavor from the regional specialties. While staying at the neighborhood farmer's guesthouse, try the traditional rice, which is cooked over a fire with braised pork and stir-fried prawns flavored with Longjing tea.

For tourists from abroad, there are also tea art exhibitions and bilingual exhibition halls with a wealth of information about the history and culture of tea.

To reach there, take the Hangzhou East Railway Station bullet train, then transfer to the West Lake Scenic Area via Subway Line 1. Meijiawu Village is located in the western portion of West Lake as you visit some of its features.

March to June is the best time to visit. Picking tea leaves takes place in March and early April. Steer clear of the Qingming Festival because of the heavy visitor traffic.