Tea village establishments perfect for relaxation
Print Edition
With temperatures turning a little warmer and skies a little clearer, there are good reasons for an outing.
Many like to enjoy the winter sunshine sitting in a sunny indoor space, without having to worry about the a chilly breeze. Add tea, snacks and scenery, and everything seems perfect.
Relaxing with a cup of tea in such sunny circumstances is somewhat of a Hangzhou tradition — be it in a tea garden or in a sunny room with the French windows and glass ceilings that can be found at many teahouses, cafes and restaurants built in scenic area of the city.
Shanghai Daily presents two tea villages in Hangzhou and some of their most pleasant tea houses, eateries and other establishments to relax on a sunny day.
Maojiabu
On Longjing Road, Maojiabu town is home to Longjing tea, one of the most famous and expensive of all Chinese green teas, with a history going back 1,200 years.
The tea is planted in Hangzhou and two other cities in Zhejiang Province, but Longjing tea from the West Lake area is recognized as the best.
Every year, Longjing tea farmers start picking tea leaves in mid-March, and the tea picked before April 5 — the best of all Longjing tea — is known as “soft gold” due to its price.
Maojiabu, which retains its traditional architecture, is the starting point of a famous shang xiang gu dao, or ancient trail used for pilgrimages to Lingyin (Soul’s Retreat) Temple, so the area is ideal for hiking.
The best time to visit is on a clear, sunny day when visitors can enjoy the aroma of food wafting from various restaurants — some of them run by local tea farmers.
Those with glassed-in rooms with lots of sunshine include:
• Green Tea Restaurant
Maximum use of glass for walls and ceilings allows the maximum sunlight. Also, it is built partially over water.
Many dishes are creative adaptations of local cuisine, such as Longjing Wen Cha (Looking for Dragon Well Tea), which includes Longjing tea, shrimp and pi dan (preserved eggs). Another favorite is green tea barbecued pork.
Address: 83 Longjing Rd
Tel: (0571) 8788-8022
• Blue Lotus Restaurant
Outdoor and in a conservatory, there are dozens of tables made of rough wood, while indoor French windows let the sunshine through. The menu includes Thai staples, plus fusion and creative dishes adapted from Hangzhou cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients.
Address: 1-1 Inside Jilong Hill
Tel: (0571) 8715-6551
• Jura Town Restaurant
Next to Blue Lotus is Jura Town, which in the afternoons offers tea, juice, alcoholic beverages, barbecue and desserts. It has a long section that can seat 50 people facing a tea grove, with windows that can be opened to let in the fresh scent of the tea bushes.
Address: 68-4 Jilong Hill
Tel: (0571) 8797-9012
Baileqiao
Few people know this place as a tea village. Usually people recognize it as a place hidden behind Lingyin Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in China, or as a spot for a growing number of youth hostels.
But Baileqiao, or Baile Bridge, is a traditional tea-growing village. The scenic location has streams and low, flat houses. Some 400 households are now registered there, and some rent their houses out to youth hostels, teahouses, restaurants and studios.
To enjoy sunshine and tea, visitors can try restaurants run by local tea farmers, which can be found along lanes and streets in the village. The village’s hostels, boutique hotels and restaurants, including the places listed here, have become popular.
• Lingyin Ferry Inn
Shaded by vegetation on a narrow footpath alongside Lingyin Road, Lingyin Ferry Inn has simple and plain European-style décor.
Its front yard is eye-catching with landscaping that blooms year round, and customers are welcome to enjoy the fruit on the house.
Address: No. 45, Baileqiao
Tel: (0571) 8806-0468
• Yinju West Lake Boutique Hotel
This boutique hotel, at an average price of about 800 yuan per room, has floor heating, There are L’Occitane products in the bathrooms.
Address: No. 83, Baileqiao
Tel: (0571) 8998-6561
• Country Stroll Inn
Opening the wooden gate and entering the yard, guests may feel as if they had stepped into a pastoral painting. Plants, sunshades and garden furniture are in perfect order, creating a pleasant spot on sunny days to take a leisurely cup of tea or coffee.
Address: No. 289, Baileqiao
Tel: (0571) 8696-8921
• Tongtang Hostel
This hostel has lots of plants and is decorated in Chinese vintage style. It features a yard with swings and inside there is plenty of sunshine.
Address: No. 92, Baileqiao
Tel: (0571) 8796-8075
• Lingyin Chanheyuan Restaurant
This Zen-theme (but not vegetarian) restaurant provides high-end tea and meals. Its décor is business-like and functional.
Add: No. 38, Baileqiao
Tel: (0571) 8583-6666
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