Half-Day Tea Ceremony Experience at China National Tea Museum in Hangzhou

This half‑day itinerary is specially designed for tea culture enthusiasts. Centered around the China National Tea Museum (Longjing Branch), it combines educational insights, traditional hands‑on experiences, and professional tasting sessions. Guided throughout by intangible cultural heritage inheritors and seasoned tea masters, participants will enjoy a private space, immersing themselves in the timeless elegance of Chinese tea ceremony and the unique flavour of West Lake Longjing tea at a relaxed pace.

Upon departure, the tour first visits the Longjing Branch of the China National Tea Museum, just a short walk away. The museum houses an extensive collection of tea specimens, ancient tea wares, and historical documents. From the origins of tea worldwide to the development of Chinese tea history and the characteristics of various regional teas, it systematically presents the cultural significance and scientific knowledge of tea. Accompanied by a guided tour, you can closely admire relics from the ancient Tea Horse Road, famous tea‑themed paintings, and traditional tea‑making tools, gaining a deeper understanding of the close connection between tea, humanity, and nature, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent in‑depth experience.

After the visit, a highly anticipated Song Dynasty tea whisking experience awaits. This activity recreates the court tea rituals of Hangzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty, perfectly replicating the elegant scenes from "The Dream of Splendor." Under the careful guidance of experienced tea masters, you will learn ancient techniques such as grinding tea, sifting tea, heating water, and whisking. Holding a tea whisk, you gently stir the tea in the bowl, watching the milky white foam gradually form. You can even try painting with the tea foam, experiencing the poetic and leisurely art of "dividing tea" practised by ancients, and appreciating the refined and romantic lifestyle of the Song Dynasty through every movement.

Next, a Longjing tea tasting session commences. The tea room host presents a selection of fine teas from various regions and specially teaches the method of identifying the "four wonders" of Longjing tea: colour, aroma, flavour, and shape. Through visual observation of the flat, straight leaves and emerald green colour, smelling the dry tea's fresh and crisp fragrance, and tasting the sweet and mellow aftertaste after brewing, along with the host's detailed explanations on water temperature control and brewing timing, you will grasp the essence of brewing different tea varieties, learning from then on how to discern good tea and brew it well.

Throughout the journey, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor of West Lake Longjing tea roasting techniques or a senior tea master will provide personal instruction. Even though Plan A does not include tea picking and roasting experiences, the master will still reveal in detail the thousand‑year wisdom of the "ten major techniques" of tea roasting (including shaking, stacking, spreading, and pressing), explaining how each step affects the aroma and taste of the tea leaves, allowing you to deeply understand the core charm of Longjing tea as an intangible cultural heritage.

The entire tour adopts an exclusive private small‑group model, avoiding crowds and providing a comfortable, private space. Whether you are a beginner in tea culture or an avid enthusiast, under professional guidance, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the essence of tea ceremony through knowledge, experience, and tasting, spending a fulfilling and elegant half‑day.

Remarks: Activities in Plan A do not include Longjing tea picking and roasting experiences. It only covers the visit to the China National Tea Museum, the Song Dynasty tea whisking experience, the Longjing tea tasting session, and guidance services from the intangible cultural heritage inheritor/senior tea master.