China Guide
Jiangsu and Zhejiang
Longjing
Opening time: Daily 8am–5pm
Price: Free
Address: 2km southwest of the lake (bus #27 from near Yuefei Mu)
The village of Longjing ("Dragon Well"), with tea terraces rising on all sides behind the houses, is famous as the origin of Longjing tea, perhaps the finest variety of green tea produced in China. Depending on the season, a stroll around here affords glimpses of leaves in different stages of processing – being cut, sorted or dried. You'll be pestered to sit at an overpriced teahouse or to buy leaves when you get off the bus – have a good look around first, as there is a very complex grading system and a huge range in quality and price. The Dragon Well itself is at the end of the village, a group of buildings around a spring, done up in a rather touristy fashion.