National Tea Museum (Zhongguo Chaye Bowuguan)
The Basics
Explore the history of tea, different types of tea, a collection of tea wares, and tea customs in the Exhibition Building. Other buildings on the beautifully manicured grounds of this museum offer the chance for visitors to taste different types of tea, learn about different tea ceremonies, and watch performances related to tea.
A number of tours include a stop at the National Tea Museum. Choose from a tea-focused tour, which also stops at nearby tea plantations like Meijiawu Tea Village or Eighteen Imperial Tea Bushes. A more general sightseeing tour will visit the tea museum in addition to top Hangzhou attractions, like West Lake, Linying Temple, and Flying Peak. Full-day tours from Shanghai are also available.
Things to Know Before You Go
The National Tea Museum is a must-visit for tea lovers.
It’s free to enter the National Tea Museum.
Specialized tea classes are subject to separate fees.
Audio guides are available.
Day tours from Shanghai can last about 10 hours.
How to Get There
The National Tea Museum is located in Longjing (Dragon Well) Village, west of West Lake. From Hangzhou, take bus No. 27, or tourist bus Y3, and get off at Shuangfeng Station. It’s also easy to catch a taxi from Hangzhou to the museum, though it will be tougher to find a taxi for the return trip.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The National Tea Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Many visitors combine a visit to the museum with a visit to nearby tea plantations and villages. Spring is the best time to visit the area, as visitors can try their hand at picking and making tea with the locals.
National Tea Museum, Longjing Scenic Area
The National Tea Museum opened a second branch in 2015, in the Longjing Scenic Area. Also surrounded by tea plantations and beautifully manicured gardens, the second branch focuses more on global tea culture and features a number of tea-themed shops.
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