Can I pick my own Longjing tea in the village?

Yes, but only during the spring harvest window, roughly late March to mid-April. Family-run tea houses let visitors try hand-picking in their terraces, usually as part of a paid farm tour and tasting (around 80 to 200 yuan per person, including snacks). Outside harvest season the bushes are not ready, so you can still walk the fields and taste tea but cannot pick.

Is Longjing Tea Village worth visiting if I do not buy tea?

Absolutely. The village sits in terraced hills six kilometers southwest of West Lake and is fully walkable, with over 200 family tea houses and the free Longjing Tea Museum explaining production. The Nine Creeks hiking trail also starts here, a roughly six-kilometer mountain walk down toward Six Harmonies Pagoda. Many visitors come purely for the scenery and the quiet.

How do I avoid overpaying for tea in Longjing Village?

Prices vary enormously, and the most expensive pre-Qingming top grade can run into thousands of yuan per 500 grams. Most farmers are honest, but taste before you buy, ask the picking date, and remember bring cash since most stalls are cash only. If a 'pre-Qingming' price seems too cheap, it is likely a later or lower grade harvest.

Longjing Tea Village, Hangzhou: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

Hangzhou's most-prestigious green tea village — terraced fields southwest of West Lake. Pick-your-own + tea tastings April-May.

At a glance

What it is: Outdoors
Also known as: 龙井村 (Lóngjǐng Cūn)
Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
Time needed: Half day
Best time to visit: Late March to mid-April for harvest
Getting there: Taxi / DiDi from metro
English: Some English signage
Cards accepted: Cash only
Entry: Walk-in — no booking
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi
Address: Longjing Village, West Lake District · 西湖区龙井村

See Longjing Tea Villagetickets & tours

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Longjing ('Dragon Well') tea has been produced in this small village 6 km southwest of West Lake since the Tang dynasty (700 CE) — and the Pre-Qingming Longjing tea (picked before April 5, the Qingming Festival) is the most expensive green tea in China (¥5000-30000/500g for top-grade). The village is walkable: 200+ family-run tea houses where farmers serve their own tea (¥80-200/person for tea tasting + snacks). The Longjing Tea Museum (¥0 entry) explains the production. Best timing: late March - mid April for pre-Qingming harvest (you can pick your own). The Nine Creeks (九溪十八涧) hiking trail starts here — 6 km mountain walk down to Six Harmonies Pagoda. Bus 27 from West Lake or Mei Family Wu (梅家坞) by taxi.

Highlights

Pre-Qingming Tea TastingLate March-early April; ¥80-200 farm tour + tea
Pick-Your-Own TeaApril; farmers let you try the picking
Nine Creeks Trail6 km hike down to Six Harmonies; starts here

What Chinese travelers actually do here

Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.

▸Come on a weekday morning before tour buses arrive; the terraces are quiet and the light on the green rows is best.
▸Walk uphill past the main road into Mei Jia Wu for fewer crowds and lower tea prices than the entrance houses.
▸Bring cash; nearly every family tea house here is cash only and there are no card readers in the lanes.
▸Outside the spring harvest the bushes are bare of new shoots, so visit late March to April if picking matters to you.
▸Tasting fees usually include refills and snacks, so settle in rather than rushing between several houses.
▸Misty mornings after rain make the most atmospheric photos of the terraced hillsides, though footpaths get slippery.
▸Pair the village with the Nine Creeks trail that starts here for a downhill forest walk most guides skip entirely.

Photos

Two women picking tea leaves in a lush plantation in Hangzhou, China.

Beautiful aerial view of vibrant green tea fields in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.

Aerial view of lush green tea plantations in Hangzhou, China, showcasing terraced fields under a vibrant tree.

A vibrant green tea plantation in Hangzhou, showcasing China's rich agricultural landscape.

Vibrant green tea fields with farmers at work in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Beautiful misty tea terraces in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, enveloped in fog

A tranquil scene of a glass teapot and cup on a fence in Hangzhou's lush tea fields.

Explore the vibrant tea plantation with lush green leaves under the clear spring sky.

Scenic view of Boseong green tea fields with people exploring the lush landscape in South Korea.

Two Asian women standing amidst a vibrant tea plantation, surrounded by lush green fields.

Aerial view of lush green tea plantation on a sunny day with distant mountains.

A breathtaking view of misty mountains and lush green fields in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

A worker navigating rows of lush green tea plants in a serene, rural setting.

A panoramic view of a vibrant green tea plantation in Taiwan, showcasing lush rows of tea plants.

What travelers say (2 reviews)

Tea·TripAdvisor·5/5

Hangzhou's most prestigious green tea. Pre-Qingming harvest in late March-early April. Family farms offer pick-your-own + tasting ¥80-200.

2026-04-10

龙井茶·Xiaohongshu·5/5

龙井村采茶+茶艺体验！清明前茶最贵，¥5000-30000/500g。一般家访¥80-200一人。

2026-03-15

Watch creators visit Longjing Tea Village

Each clip is timestamped to the moment the creator arrives at this stop.

HANGZHOU Travel Guide — West Lake, Lingyin, Longjing Tea

China DiscoveryStarts at 9:40

Tea in Hangzhou — Longjing Pre-Qingming Harvest

Mark WiensStarts at 1:00

Frequently asked questions about Longjing Tea Village

Can I pick my own Longjing tea in the village?: Yes, but only during the spring harvest window, roughly late March to mid-April. Family-run tea houses let visitors try hand-picking in their terraces, usually as part of a paid farm tour and tasting (around 80 to 200 yuan per person, including snacks). Outside harvest season the bushes are not ready, so you can still walk the fields and taste tea but cannot pick.
Is Longjing Tea Village worth visiting if I do not buy tea?: Absolutely. The village sits in terraced hills six kilometers southwest of West Lake and is fully walkable, with over 200 family tea houses and the free Longjing Tea Museum explaining production. The Nine Creeks hiking trail also starts here, a roughly six-kilometer mountain walk down toward Six Harmonies Pagoda. Many visitors come purely for the scenery and the quiet.
How do I avoid overpaying for tea in Longjing Village?: Prices vary enormously, and the most expensive pre-Qingming top grade can run into thousands of yuan per 500 grams. Most farmers are honest, but taste before you buy, ask the picking date, and remember bring cash since most stalls are cash only. If a 'pre-Qingming' price seems too cheap, it is likely a later or lower grade harvest.