Is the China National Tea Museum free, and do I need my passport?

Entry is free, but bring your passport since it is required for access as a foreign visitor. The museum is China's only national-level tea museum, set on nearly five hectares of working tea garden between Longjing Village and West Lake. Booking ahead is advised. The optional tea ceremony at the on-site tea house costs extra, roughly 80 to 150 yuan.

What is there to see inside the Tea Museum?

Six themed halls cover tea history, including Lu Yu's foundational 'Classic of Tea', plus cultivation, tea making both traditional and modern, regional teas like Pu'er and Tieguanyin, the tea ceremony, and tea customs. The open-air garden rotates seasonal tea varieties. English tours are available, making it one of the more foreigner-friendly attractions south of the lake.

Can I combine the Tea Museum with other West Lake sights?

Yes, it works well as a 'south-of-the-lake' day. Longjing Tea Village is about five minutes onward by taxi, and Lingyin Temple sits roughly ten minutes away. Bus 27 from West Lake reaches the museum, or a taxi takes about 20 minutes. A weekday morning visit lets you see the museum, then taste tea in the village afterward.

China National Tea Museum, Hangzhou: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

China's only national-level tea museum — tea production history, regional tea types, tea ceremony performances. Free.

At a glance

What it is: Arts & Culture
Also known as: 中国茶叶博物馆 (Zhōngguó Cháyè Bówùguǎn)
Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Time needed: 2 hours
Best time to visit: Weekday morning
Getting there: Taxi / DiDi from metro
English: English tours available
Cards accepted: Cash only
Entry: Passport booking required
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi
Address: 88 Longjing Rd, Hangzhou · 龙井路 88 号

The China National Tea Museum (1991) is the only national-level tea museum, set on 4.7 hectares of tea garden between the Longjing village and West Lake. Free entry (passport required for access). Six halls covering: tea history (with the Sui-era 'Classic of Tea' by Lu Yu), tea cultivation, tea making (modern + traditional), regional teas (Pu'er, Tieguanyin, etc), tea ceremony, tea customs. The on-site tea house (¥80-150 for the full ceremony experience) is genuinely good. Open-air tea garden has dynamic-rotation seasonal varieties. Bus 27 from West Lake or taxi 20 min. Combine with Longjing village (5 min taxi onward) and Lingyin Temple (10 min away) as a 'south-of-the-lake' day.

Highlights

Sui-era 'Classic of Tea'Lu Yu's 760 CE foundational tea text on display
Full Tea Ceremony¥80-150 at on-site tea house

What Chinese travelers actually do here

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

▸Allow time for the open-air tea garden behind the halls; it rotates seasonal varieties and is quieter than the indoor exhibits.
▸Visit on a weekday morning before tour groups arrive and before the afternoon haze dulls the garden views.
▸Book ahead and carry your passport, since access requires it and the free ticket still needs registration.
▸The on-site tea ceremony is genuinely worth the fee here, unlike the rushed tastings near West Lake's tourist strip.
▸Card payment is unreliable inside; keep some cash for the tea house and any small purchases.
▸Chain this with Longjing Village just five minutes onward by taxi rather than backtracking to the lake.
▸English-guided tours exist but should be arranged in advance, not assumed on arrival at the gate.

Photos

Rosa × odorata 'Hume's Blush Tea-scented China'

Tea plantation at the China National Tea Museum

Eingang des Teemuseums China National Tea Museum

What travelers say (1 review)

Tea·TripAdvisor·4/5

China's only national-level tea museum. Free with passport. Full tea ceremony at on-site teahouse ¥80-150.

2026-04-12

Watch creators visit China National Tea Museum

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

Tea in Hangzhou — Longjing Pre-Qingming Harvest

Mark WiensStarts at 10:00

Frequently asked questions about China National Tea Museum

Is the China National Tea Museum free, and do I need my passport?: Entry is free, but bring your passport since it is required for access as a foreign visitor. The museum is China's only national-level tea museum, set on nearly five hectares of working tea garden between Longjing Village and West Lake. Booking ahead is advised. The optional tea ceremony at the on-site tea house costs extra, roughly 80 to 150 yuan.
What is there to see inside the Tea Museum?: Six themed halls cover tea history, including Lu Yu's foundational 'Classic of Tea', plus cultivation, tea making both traditional and modern, regional teas like Pu'er and Tieguanyin, the tea ceremony, and tea customs. The open-air garden rotates seasonal tea varieties. English tours are available, making it one of the more foreigner-friendly attractions south of the lake.
Can I combine the Tea Museum with other West Lake sights?: Yes, it works well as a 'south-of-the-lake' day. Longjing Tea Village is about five minutes onward by taxi, and Lingyin Temple sits roughly ten minutes away. Bus 27 from West Lake reaches the museum, or a taxi takes about 20 minutes. A weekday morning visit lets you see the museum, then taste tea in the village afterward.