Hangzhou: Longjing Rd.

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We headed out of Tangkou very early - 6:30 in the morning. We thought we could get back to Hangzhou before 11:00, but we forgot about the shady bus system. The bus made a lot of stops, picked up people on the side of the road, waited at the bus stations for a long time too. It was so annoying. I guess we got a non-express ticket. At the bus stations, hawkers come onto the coach to sell you anything from chestnuts to homemade onion pancakes, to souveniers. Thoroughly annoying because it was cranky from getting up early, the bus was stuffy and hot, and somewhat smelly. The guy sitting behind CL had groddy fingernails too. Oh well. We got to Hangzhou at 12:30 pm. What a long ride.

Our flight to Guilin wasn't until 7:00 pm, so we had a few hours to spare. We decided to go to Longjing to visit the China Tea Museum and the tea village. The Museum is free and smelled nice from the flowers on the trees. Turned out to be osmanthus flowers - which we later learned is Guilin's signature flower/tree.

We rode the tourist bus to Longjing Tea Village. As we were waiting for the bus, a woman started to talk to us and told that she/her family has a tea plantation. Since we were headed in her direction, she asked us to go to her home to taste their tea. Every house on Longjing Rd has an open door with tables available for guests to taste/buy tea. Anyway, she told us a little about the tea industry. I learned that about 5 kg of fresh picked leaves makes about 1 kg of tea. Picking tea looks like hard work. You need to pick a whole hill of bushes to get 5-10 kg of fresh leaves. Her family's land produces about 100 kg of tea per year. The high quality tea sells for 320 rmb per kg. Tea is good for eyesight and skin. Her entire family doesn't need glasses. Her daughter's skin was perfect. Keep in mind that each person can easily drink 0.5 to 1 kg per week. That's an $80-120 USD a month drink! Most people can't afford to drink that much green tea! Anyway, tea leaves are also used for cooking. She said that after the leaves are used to brew tea, she chops up the leaves and uses it to scramble eggs. I'll have to try that.

The tea visit was nice. The area is cute and doesn't feel too touristy. We enjoyed it very much, and Longjing tea is not bad either!

We caught a cab to the Hangzhou airport and got there 2 hours early. Off to Guilin!

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Photos

Longjing Road
Longjing tea is grown here.

China Tea Museum
In front of the museum. These are the tea plants.

Osmanthus Tree
Fragrant smell of flowers.