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Quieter Alternative to Longjing Village
While Longjing Village gets all the guidebook attention (and the tour bus crowds that come with it), Meijiawu (梅家坞) offers the same breathtaking tea terrace scenery with a fraction of the visitors. This 600-year-old village stretches along a 5-kilometer valley road lined with tea houses, each with terraces overlooking row after row of neatly trimmed tea bushes climbing the surrounding hillsides. On a quiet weekday morning, the only sounds are birdsong and the distant murmur of tea farmers chatting as they work the terraces.
Meijiawu's tea is the same Longjing (Dragon Well) cultivar that made Hangzhou's green tea famous — the village sits within the protected Longjing tea designation zone. The difference is atmosphere. Where Longjing Village feels increasingly commercial, with aggressive tea vendors and souvenir shops, Meijiawu retains the feel of a working agricultural community. The tea farmers here are the same families who have tended these terraces for generations, and they are generally happy to let you wander through their fields (stick to the paths between rows) and photograph the scenery.
💡 Insider Tip
Visit during the spring harvest season (late March through early May) to see tea pickers at work. The pre-Qingming harvest (before April 5) produces the most prized and expensive Longjing tea — you can buy it directly from farmers at a fraction of the city price.
Tea Houses & Farm-to-Table Dining
The village's main street, Meiling Road (梅灵路), is lined with dozens of family-run tea houses, each offering a similar experience: sit on a wooden terrace overlooking the tea fields, sip freshly brewed Longjing tea (¥30–60 per pot, depending on grade), and if you are hungry, order from a menu of farm-to-table Hangzhou dishes. This is some of the best food you will eat in the Hangzhou area — the vegetables come from gardens behind the tea houses, the chickens scratch in the yard, and the tea-smoked dishes are prepared using leaves from the surrounding fields.
Must-try dishes include Longjing shrimp (龙井虾仁) — tender river shrimp stir-fried with fresh tea leaves — and tea-smoked chicken (茶香鸡), which is marinated and smoked over Longjing tea leaves for an aromatic, subtly smoky flavor. Most tea houses also serve the Hangzhou classic Dongpo pork (东坡肉), a cube of braised pork belly so tender it collapses at the touch of a chopstick. A full meal for two, including tea, typically runs ¥120–200 — excellent value for the quality.
Hiking Through the Terraces
Beyond the tea houses, Meijiawu is surrounded by a network of hiking trails that wind through the tea terraces and up into the forested hills. The most popular route is a 3-kilometer loop that starts from the village center, climbs through the terraces to a ridge with panoramic views of the entire valley, then descends through a bamboo grove back to the road. The trail is well-maintained but can be steep in sections — wear proper shoes and bring water.
For a longer adventure, you can connect from Meijiawu to the Nine Creeks trail or continue along the ridge to Longjing Village, creating a full-day hike through the heart of Hangzhou's tea country. Local tea farmers can point you toward trailheads — most speak limited English, but showing a photo or map on your phone works fine.
How to Get There
Meijiawu is about 12 km southwest of West Lake. The most scenic approach is by Bus 324, which winds through the tea hills from the Lingyin Temple area (about 30 minutes). Alternatively, take a taxi or Didi from West Lake — the fare is approximately ¥40–50 and the drive takes 25–30 minutes. If you are combining Meijiawu with Nine Creeks or Longjing Village, a taxi between these locations costs ¥15–25.
There is no admission fee to enter the village or walk the tea terraces. Parking is available but limited on weekends — if driving, arrive before 10:00 AM to secure a spot.
🌱 Buying Tea Directly
Buying Longjing tea directly from a farmer in Meijiawu is one of the best souvenirs you can bring home from Hangzhou. Expect to pay ¥200–600 per 500g depending on grade. The farmer will usually let you taste before buying. Avoid the pre-packaged tins sold at tourist stalls — they are often lower-grade tea at inflated prices.