Longjing Tea and Longjing Village Guide

May 21, 2026

By Admin我的商店

Two girls in traditional Chinese attire are savoring Longjing tea on a tea hill in Hangzhou.

By Sherry Fei | May 2026

If there is one flavor that defines Hangzhou, it is probably not sweetness or spice.

It is the clean, soft, slightly nutty taste of freshly brewed Longjing tea.

Known internationally as Dragon Well tea, this famous green tea has shaped the identity of Hangzhou for centuries. The tea fields surrounding the city are not just agricultural land — they are part of the landscape, the local lifestyle, and even the rhythm of daily life itself.

For many travelers, visiting Longjing Village Hangzhou becomes one of the most peaceful and memorable experiences in China.

And once you step into the hills above West Lake, it becomes easy to understand why.

In Longjing Village, Hangzhou, you can enjoy sitting before the endless tea terraces while sipping a cup of authentic Longjing tea — a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Source: 小红书@图图在路上

What Is Longjing Tea?

Longjing tea, also called Dragon Well green tea, is one of China’s most famous green teas.

It is known for:

flat jade-green leaves
fresh roasted aroma
soft chestnut-like flavor
smooth, clean finish

Unlike heavily scented teas, Longjing feels restrained and balanced. It does not overwhelm you. It slowly unfolds.

For first-time visitors to China, it is often surprising how central tea culture still is in daily life:

people carrying tea bottles everywhere, restaurants serving tea before meals, older residents discussing tea harvests with near-scientific seriousness.

In Hangzhou especially, tea is not a luxury object. It is simply part of life.

Freshly picked Longjing tea leaves are harvested from the tender shoots at the very top of the tea plants during specific seasons. Their delicate, pale green hue is so vivid that even through a screen, you can almost catch their refreshing fragrance.

Source: 小红书@燕麦拿铁

The Origin of Longjing Tea

The origin of Longjing tea is closely tied to Hangzhou and the hills surrounding West Lake.

This area’s climate — humid air, misty mountains, soft rainfall — created ideal conditions for tea cultivation over many centuries.

The most famous variety is:

West Lake Longjing Tea

This refers to tea grown specifically in protected areas around West Lake.

Authentic West Lake Longjing tea is considered premium and can become extremely expensive depending on:

harvest timing
tea field location
leaf quality
production method

Early spring harvests are especially prized.

Each harvest season, tea farmers set out early in the morning and don’t return until dusk, carrying back the leaves they’ve carefully picked throughout the day.

Source: 小红书@燕麦拿铁

Longjing Village: The Heart of Hangzhou Tea Culture

What Is Longjing Village?

Longjing Village is a small tea-growing village hidden in the hills southwest of West Lake.

Stone paths wind between traditional houses, tea terraces climb the mountainsides, and the smell of roasting tea sometimes drifts through the air.

For travelers searching:

Longjing tea plantation Hangzhou
Longjing tea fields Hangzhou
Longjing tea village
Longjing Village Hangzhou

…this is the place they usually mean.

On an overcast, drizzly day in Longjing Village, tea farmers can be seen in small groups here and there along the ridges of tea terraces, carefully picking leaves.

Source: 小红书@Laura.Z_CC®️📸

Walking Through the Longjing Tea Fields

The experience is quieter than many people expect.

There are no giant theme-park entrances or dramatic tourism performances.

Instead:

narrow mountain roads
tea terraces layered into hillsides
small family-run tea houses
local residents drying tea leaves
cats sleeping beside bamboo baskets

The beauty comes from atmosphere rather than spectacle.

Spring is especially famous because tea-picking season transforms the hills into a vivid green landscape.

Though the environment tea farmers work in may look beautiful, the job itself is quite demanding. It requires long hours of standing, mechanically repeating the same motion all day long — leaving early in the morning and returning at dusk. Their hands are often nicked and scratched by the tea plants as well.

Source: 小红书@图图在路上

Longjing Tea Culture in Everyday Life

Tea culture in Hangzhou is not only about formal ceremonies.

It appears everywhere:

tea brewed in glass cups at restaurants
elderly residents carrying tea bottles
conversations about harvest quality
tea snacks sold in markets
cafes reinventing Longjing into modern drinks

This mixture of ancient tradition and modern reinterpretation is part of what makes Hangzhou feel unique.

In Hangzhou, it is quite easy to find a teahouse that serves Longjing tea along with Longjing-inspired desserts. Most of these teahouses offer beautiful views and are equipped with delicate, aesthetically pleasing tea wares.

Source: 小红书@图图在路上

Longjing Tea Benefits

Many travelers search:

Longjing tea benefits
Dragon Well tea benefits
benefits of Longjing tea

Like many green teas, Longjing contains:

caffeine
antioxidants
plant compounds associated with freshness and alertness

People often describe it as:

refreshing rather than heavy
energizing without harshness
clean-tasting and calming

Of course, tea is not magic medicine — but culturally, it is strongly associated with wellness and balance.

Brewing Longjing tea doesn’t require a complicated process — a simple teapot and a cup are more than enough. If you’d like to take a closer look at the tea leaves, simply pick a few out onto a small saucer and examine these tiny young shoots to discover what makes their delicate fragrance so captivating.

Source: 小红书@SUJIAN万塘治茶

Does Longjing Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes.

As a green tea, it naturally contains caffeine, though usually less intensely than coffee.

Many people find the effect gentler and smoother.

The stir-fried Longjing tea leaves being poured into a white porcelain tea bowl are flat and flaky in shape.

Source: 小红书@SUJIAN万塘治茶

Modern Longjing Tea Drinks

Tea culture in China is evolving rapidly.

Besides traditional brewing, you will now also find:

Longjing milk tea
Longjing Americanos
tea cocktails
tea desserts
sparkling tea drinks

Hangzhou cafes especially love experimenting with local tea flavors.

This mix of tradition and modern urban culture is part of modern China’s charm.

Source: 小红书@怪乖

What Else to See Near Longjing Village

West Lake

The most famous scenic area in Hangzhou.

Boat rides, willow-lined paths, pagodas, and tea houses create a softer atmosphere than many major Chinese cities.

Nine Creeks Area

A peaceful walking route through streams, bamboo, and forested hills.

Especially beautiful during spring and autumn.

Tea Museums and Tea Houses

Several tea museums and independent tea spaces around Hangzhou offer tastings and introductions to local tea culture.

The Tea Museum is nestled among the mountains near Longjing Village and offers beautiful scenery. Inside, visitors can enjoy both the purchase and tasting of Longjing tea and Longjing-inspired desserts.

Source: 小红书@咕噜噜Glu

Longjing Tea and Food

Tea culture naturally connects with food.

Some local dishes include:

Longjing shrimp
tea-smoked foods
tea desserts
seasonal tea pastries

The tea itself is often treated almost like an ingredient.

A Longjing tea pastry created by a well-known local Hangzhou chain of traditional Chinese desserts — each bite offers a delicate balance of light sweetness and subtle tea fragrance.

Source: 小红书@Lottieeee

Practical Travel Tips for Longjing Village

Transportation Can Be Inconvenient

This is important.

Although beautiful, Longjing Village sits deep in the hills around West Lake.

Public transportation can become crowded and confusing, especially during weekends and holidays.

Taxi access may also become difficult during peak travel times.

Best Seasons to Visit

Spring: Most famous season for tea picking.

Autumn: Cooler weather and beautiful mountain scenery.

Summer: Very green, but often humid.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

The village area involves hills, slopes, and walking paths.

Longjing tea is not ready to brew right after being picked and washed. It must go through a process of withering and then hand-firing in a large iron wok, which is done personally by the local tea farmers.

Source: 小红书@秋白

A Simpler Way to Experience Hangzhou Tea Culture

Because Longjing Village is located deep in the mountains on one side of West Lake, transportation can take time and energy — especially for short-term travelers.

If you want to experience Hangzhou tea culture without spending half your day navigating mountain roads, our Hangzhou tea culture experiences Tea varieties in Hangzhou: DIY kombucha, Longjing tea, matcha offer a more relaxed alternative.

Instead of focusing only on tea fields, we explore how tea exists in modern Chinese life:

traditional tea whisking culture
kombucha workshops
Longjing-inspired drinks
tea spaces locals actually visit
seasonal tea experiences connected to Hangzhou daily culture

It is less about rushing between tourist spots, and more about understanding why tea still shapes this city today.

Enjoying a pot of authentic Longjing tea around a stove with a local friend who knows tea culture — on the rooftop terrace of a cozy little building along a busy neighborhood street — might just be more convenient than trekking deep into the mountains for the same experience.

Source: 小红书@秋白

Discover More Local China with Bridge to Locals

Tea is only one part of Hangzhou’s culture.

Beyond Longjing Village, China becomes most interesting when experienced through everyday local life: night walks, markets, food streets, temple spaces, cafes, riversides, and conversations.

Explore our local blogs and experiences below across Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Chongqing and beyond — from tea culture routes and foodie walks to nightlife tours and hidden neighborhood experiences designed for curious travelers who want more than standard sightseeing.