Overview
Discover Hangzhou's lush West Lake hills on a relaxed private day trip from Shanghai. Stroll the Nine Creeks valley, visit the famous Longjing tea village, and enjoy serene bamboo paths.
Itinerary
Shanghai: West Lake Hills & Longjing Tea Private Day Trip
Explore the green hills behind Hangzhou's legendary West Lake on this relaxed private day trip from Shanghai. After a comfortable hotel pickup, enjoy a scenic ride in your private air-conditioned car to the Nine Creeks (Jiuxi) valley, a beloved local beauty spot rich in both natural scenery and culture.
With your private English-speaking guide, take an easy, leisurely walk along the gentle, shaded Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies, crossing pretty streams and pausing for photos in the peaceful valley. Continue to the famous Longjing tea village, the home of China's celebrated Dragon Well green tea, where your guide shares the story of this prized tea and you can stop for a fresh cup. Enjoy a relaxed lunch surrounded by terraced tea gardens.
In the afternoon, take in sweeping views from the Lion Hill viewpoint toward the distant Lingyin temples, then visit the tranquil Zhenji Temple and a more than 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree before descending to the serene Yunqi Bamboo Path, a cool corridor of towering bamboo. The route is framed as easy scenic walking on well-trodden paths, not a strenuous hike. Your private car returns you directly to your Shanghai hotel for an authentic taste of West Lake's hills and tea culture.
Discover Hangzhou's lush West Lake hills on a relaxed private day trip from Shanghai. Stroll the Nine Creeks valley, visit the famous Longjing tea village, and enjoy serene bamboo paths.
What's Included
✓ Included
✕ Not included
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
I booked with two dishes in mind and left with a longer list. West Lake gave the route a clear sense of place rather than feeling like random snacks. The time around West Lake was not the part I would cut.
What helped was simple: dietary questions in Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou were handled before we started, not halfway through the first tasting. That made the session much easier to enjoy.
Small tip: do not eat a large breakfast before the Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou tour. The portions at individual stops look modest, then suddenly you realise you have been tasting things for hours.
Looking back, this wasn't a “see everything” tour, and that was a strength. The time around Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou felt specific to Shanghai, Guilin and Hangzhou, not interchangeable with another city.