FROM May 1st, 2025

China Tea Tour

Shanghai - Yixing - Wuyishan - Tongmuguan - Jianyang - Fuzhou - Kunming - Xishuangbanna - Nannuo - Laobanzhang - Yiwu

We selected the places, the people and the leaves we love the most, for an unforgettable experience immersed in the tea passion that we share.

After meeting in Shanghai, our journey begins on the east coast of China in Yixing city, a centuries-old pottery district, where National artists Yuan Weixin and Lian Meiping lead us through their work, clay, and ancient kilns. 

We then move to a town that has been the international point of reference for lovers of porcelain and tea accessories for over a thousand years: Jingdezhen, where every pottery student comes to study and where the art of ceramic pervades every moment of life and fills the eyes with meaning and beauty.
The nearby valley is surrounded by running peaks and green lands: we will visit the ancient city of Tunxi, Huangshan,close to the origin of green tea and Qimen red teas.

We then travel by train to Wuyishan, where the striking scenery all around us tells the stories of the prestigious rock teas, of the red teas found in the stunning Tongmuguan natural park, and the Jianzhan pottery found in the ancient Jianyang district, the most sought-after ceramic used for the emperors of Song dynasty. 

The second half of the tour starts in Yunnan's capital city of Kunming, where we study the theory and ritual of gongfucha tea in an exquisite studio. From there, we go south to the areas that are most significant for pu'er tea production: Laobanzhang, Hekai, our tea forest in Nannuo and the most esteemed villages in Yiwu.

In this travel you find everything that makes up Eastern Leaves: our Yunnan, a comprehensive look at Chinese culture, the peaks and rivers of Wuyishan park, our favorite artists from Yixing and of Dai minorities, and all the people that give meaning to our adventure in tea.

China tea tour
May 1st - May 20th, 2024

Note: you can also choose a 12-day itinerary option instead of the full 20-day trip. Contact us to plan your journey!

Info and booking

From farmers and tea scholars

We bring with us everything we have learned and developed over the years as scholars and tea producers in Yunnan, our contacts with ceramic artists and other like-minded growers in other Chinese provinces, and all our passion.

Careful planning

We organize our travels with the same care that we use for our teas and our courses: we consider our activities as a whole, a multidimensional exploration of the leaves we love that needs careful and passionate support to reveal all its beauty.

Independent

We organize our itineraries with our own resources, without relying on any travel agency: we visit the places that shaped our tea journey and continue to astonish us, sitting at the tea table with the tea professionals we esteem the most.

Itinerary

Day #1: the Eastern Pearl

Shanghai, September 2nd

We welcome you to Shanghai from your country of departure: we arrange for a private pick-up for every traveller, greeting you in a gracious setting that will enable you to get the rest you need while sipping your first cup of tea in China.

It will be our first encounter with tea: it is time to just sip, and get ready for the next morning trip to Yixing.

Day #2: The ancient capital of pottery

Yixing, May 2nd

We leave in the morning from Shanghai heading south, towards Yixing and its precious clays. We visit local studios in the afternoon and make our first encounters with the artists and masters whose pieces are already owned by many of you.

The ancient ceramic production district is the vibrant heart of Yixing: artists, students, artisans and museums, with one of the liveliest food cultures on the East coast.

Gallery: Yixing

Day #3: COLLECTIONS, RARITIES, AND KILNS

Yixing, May 3rd

We divide our time between the work of Yixing master Yuan Weixin and the historical landmarks of the area. Together with the masters Yuan Wexin and Lian Meiping, we discover - and touch - the different clays extracted in the famous mine No.4, right in front of their studio. We explore different shapes of teapots, and we follow them in their craft, to learn how a Yixing teapot is created.

During the day we visit several kilns, including a still active dragon kiln, observing all phases of the production process.

Gallery: Yixing

Day #4: to the town of white porcelain

Yixing to Jingdezhen, May 4th

In the morning we visit the Yixing museum, which tells the history of the neighborhood through the centuries, with priceless pieces and the origin of clay through the Chinese dynasties.
Our guide is Lian Meiping, whose work was once hosted in the same museum.

In the afternoon we move to the ancient world capital of porcelain: Jingdezhen, located between a mountain of 高岭土 Kaolin and forests to fuel its kilns, and waterways to reach the court of the Emperor to whom tribute had been paid since the Tang dynasty.

Gallery: Jingdezhen

Day #5: Clay and fire through the centuries

Jingdezhen, May 5th

We literally walk on ancient ceramics: this neighborhood has been producing ceramics for the imperial court since the Tang Dynasty, and to this day anyone who wants to become a ceramic artist passes through here.

We will then visit the imperial kilns and the ceramic museum, and then we lose ourselves through a selection of artists' and artisans' studios.

Gallery: Jingdezhen

Day #6: sunset by the yellow mountains

Jingdezhen to Huangshan, May 6th

Jingdezhen is a city that brings together the talent and hope of many young artists from all over China: we continue the visit of the ateliers of our favorite artists, and we freely wonder through their creations.

We arrive in Huangshan City in the late afternoon, on time to enjoy the sunset over Xin'an River.
We explore the historical district of Tunxi, which has much of the well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, and we will walk through traditional snacks and antiques shops, here since the Tang dynasty.

Gallery: Huangshan

Day #7: the highest peaks

Huangshan, May 7th

Huangshan refers to the breathtaking yellow mountains that surround these valleys and plains; we explore this land with our travels and tastings, through the terroir of Qimen, Maofeng and Taipinghoukui teas.

We are guided by Xiao Yanzi through the cultivars, trees, and a wide tasting of Qimen teas; in the afternoon we visit the Songluo tea culture Museum, which was the first pan-fry green tea in Anhui.
On our journey we will find antiques and furniture, in a region with one of the most preserved historical heritages of China.

Gallery: Huangshan

Day #8: the rhythm of the mountain

Huangshan to Wuyishan, May 8th

In the morning we will leave Huanshang and take a train to northern Fujian, towards the long-awaited mountainous region of Wuyishan.

In the late afternoon we will have a first broad taste of the surrounding landscape that frames our sunset, in a first overview of flavours, cultivars and colours.

Our guide in the "rock rhyme" is Pengbao, a farmer who owns a land in the core Zhengyan area right under the historically celebrated Yingzui 鹰嘴 peak, named after its resemblance to an eagle's beak.

Gallery: Wuyishan

Day #9: The core and the original trees

Wuyishan, May 9th

Early in the morning we begin our journey among the rocks: thanks to Pengbao we have privileged access to the heart of Wuyi park. We cover all the most important areas, observing the cultivars, rock formations and having tea and lunch at two temples and a pagoda.

It is a day with a great variety of trees and different micro-environments: we will feel on our skin the variations in temperature and humidity, and we will have a complete horizontal tasting of the area's productions.

Gallery: Wuyishan

Day #10: The birthplace of Hongcha

Tongmuguan, May 10th

We head towards the gorgeous peaks of the northwest, following the Jiuqu River upstream through canyons and waterfalls, to the ancient village of Tongumuguan where the origin of red tea is preserved.

In this breathtaking landscape surrounded by unspoiled nature, green bamboo and bees working on their flowers, we taste different cultivars of Zhengshan Xiaozhong, including a couple of samples smoked by master Wu Chongfa.

We visit the original production facility on the Jiuqu River and before leaving the mountain we taste an exceptional meal cooked with local raw materials and herbs.

Gallery: Tongmuguan

Day #11: Song dynasty: Jianzhang teaware

Jianyang, May 11th

In the morning we move in a south-east direction, towards the ancient Fujianese city of Jianyang, where Jianzhan pottery technique, today also popular in Japan with the name "Tenmoku", was crafted over 1,500 years ago, reaching its maximum popularity during the Song dynasty.

We visit a master's workshop, witness and understand the process of his craft. We will compare the original Song Dynasty cups with today's ones using an electronic enlarger, visit a dragon kiln, and try to glaze our own cups.
The meal is served in an old Fujianese courtyard.

Gallery: Jianzhang

Day #12: OVER THE CLOUDS, TO THE CAPITAL OF YUNNAN

Kunming, May 12th

We fly to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, located at 2,100 meters above sea level between the tropical south and the Himalayan north.

We cross southern China from east to west, moving from the East China Sea to the heights of Yunnan, from the hot humid climate of Fujian to the freshness of Spring City, the capital of pu'er tea, where 25 cultural groups still live and thrive.

Gallery:Kunming

Day #13: Tea studies in the heart of Yunnan

Kunming, May 13th

We meet Li Haibo, master and top teacher, for an in-depth seminar on the gongfucha practise and ceremony: we study technique and movements to brew properly Chinese teas, preparing some leaves from his impressive collections.

After a lunch with his private chef, he will prepare several teas using different Yixing pieces from his collection, studying their history and most important shapes.

Gallery: Kunming

Day #14: THE tea horse road

Kunming - Xishuangbanna, May 14th

We cross Cuihu Lake towards the old city, where we meet one of the most important figures in the contemporary history of pu'er tea: Mr. Hu, who in 2005 walked with a caravan of 120 horses loaded with pu'er tea from the city of Pu'er in southwest Yunnan to Beijing - about 3000 km to the northeast.

We taste the original 2005 teas from the caravan.

In the afternoon we head south towards Xishuangbanna.

Gallery: Kunming

Day #15 - The Enchanted mountain

Nannuo forest, May 15th

In the morning we plan a 10Km walk to explore the height of Nannuo and reach its Bama side, the most prestigious and isolated; note: for whoever feels uncomfortable with the hike, most of the walk can be supported by SUV.
We will explore different tea-gardens and forests, cultivars and species, and we will picnic on the mountain.

During our day, we pay homage to the oldest 800 years old tree, and immerse ourselves in the forest that surrounded it for almost a thousand years.

Gallery: Nannuo mountain

Day #16: Treasures of Bulang mtn.

Bulang, May 16th

In the morning we head to Laoman’e village, the most historical and cultural village of the area, with a lively ancient temple that is the old keeper of the local culture and pu’er tea.

After lunch we climb the most famous mountain in the area, a symbol of the skyrocketing prices of pu'er tea: Laobanzhang, with its historic trees, evidence of ancient domestication, and the maximum security village that protects its treasure.
We also visit the neighbouring micro-valley of Hekai.

Gallery: Laobanzhang and Laoman'e

Day #17 - The emperor’s favorite

Yiwu, May 17th

We head southeast toward the border with Laos, with the Yiwu peaks as our destination. They are home to a diverse range of tastes, landscapes, and producers.

We visit two different tea villages and forests: Luoshuidong, with its remarkable trees, a sanctuary to its king, and the ancient road; and Mahei, an old Han culture village that determines what Yiwu means and taste.

Gallery: Yiwu

Day #18 - Flowery fragrance and pu’er tea

We wake up surrounded by the peaks and scents of Yiwu, and after a proper tea session we walk among the most historically significant homes and lanes, the square where pu'er tea was loaded and traded for generations, and the local museum, which is located at the first stop of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

We then head to one of the farthest villages, according to the weather and road conditions, that may be the prestigious Bohetang or Guafengzhai, surrounded by lush, green valleys.

Gallery: Yiwu

Day #19: the heart of tea production

Menghai, May 19th

Menghai is the center of the most renowned - and busiest - area for the production of pu'er tea: it is surrounded by the Bulang area with Laobanzhang and Laoman'e, Pasha, Nannuo, Naka and many others, and brings together all the best professionals and factories.

We visit a pu'er tea refining workshop and explore the local economy while dedicating our day to sampling the greatest teas.

In the afternoon, on the way to Xishuangbanna, we stop by our Pu'er shupu master for a specialised tasting, to smooth our way in the night.

Gallery: Menghai

Day #20: A Journey of fragrances

Xishuangbanna, September 20th

It is time to wrap-up all the tastes, teas, people, places and experiences we have encountered through our travel: we meet in the morning in our tea studio to brew together the very best mountains and vintages. We prepare some Guanguan tea on the fire to warm up our soul before saying our goodbye.

Our travel is designed by us, and it is independent from any travel agency: we bring you with us on Eastern Leaves routes, guided by a farmer and tea scholar, through places, tastes and people that are most meaningful for us.

Our travel package includes accommodation in selected, cosy hotels, all the internal transportation, and meals. It doesn't include the flight from/to your country of origin, visas (but we support your application), and insurance. 

Once you decide to travel with us, we assist you in everything we can, following our experience with travelers from all over the world.

We apply special rates for our Eastern Academy alumni: contact us to choose a date and customise together your travel at the origin of tea!

Food: Learn through tasting

Along with tea and culture, we place a high value on food: we select the most interesting meals and, above all, to immerse you in our reality of people and places. Whenever possible, we cook in our studio to chill between excursions and to sample foods discovered along the way.
Vegetarian options are plentiful, including numerous variations on tofu, beans, and cooking techniques that are part of the Chinese tradition.

Accomodations

In Yunnan, we spend the majority of our nights in a small private villa adjacent to our studio, making it easy to begin each day with tastings and studying. In every other city, we stay in trusted hotels on which we have come to rely over the years, and in some cases, they have become second homes to us due to their excellent service and tea with a view.

Transportation

We travel the Yunnan roads by private car to each destination, to ensure the highest level of safety, comfort, and flexibility.
We reach the city of Kunming by express train.

Contact us

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Further travel options

Winter Tour

December 23rd - January 5th

This new itinerary explores the diversity of our beloved Yunnan in tea, geography, and culture: we cross its high-mountain geography from north to south, through its two most important kingdoms of Nanzhao (Tang dynasty, 618-907) and Dai (Song dynasty, 960-1279), indulging in the best leaves that the locals who inhabited these lands refined over centuries.

In the winter, it is possible to travel over the majority of the tea roads and trails, and all of the new teas in both maocha and pressed bricks are waiting to be brewed.

Temperatures in the Xishuangbanna valley are expected to range between 18°C and 25°C, while Kunming and Dali, where we will be attending the majority of the professional seminars, will be between 5°C and 16°C.

Itinerary

Spring tea tour

March 9th - March 22nd, 2025

The tour starts at the vigil of spring, when the tea leaves, the trees and the mountains all are waiting for the first rain: the buds will sprout, and new fragrances and aromas will be discovered.

We explore all the most important mountains and tea-forests of Yunnan: we will brew together the best teas, we speak with the producers and assist them in their work, we walk their lands; we will be hosted by skilled pottery masters and professionals, we will attend to scholars' workshop on Gongfucha and Yixing, and we will live of our passion for tea.

Itinerary

Summer Tour

August 2025

For this summer we have many ideas and inspirations; we will explore the mountains, we will hike and meditate, together with people we love.

It will be a new itinerary among teas and cultures, immersed in the Chinese west, where boundaries means few in front of culture, geography, and flavors.

We plan to publish the complete itinerary during Spring 2025; in the meanwhile fell free to write us to express your preferences: we will be happy to hear from you, and plan together our trip.

Pre-booking

From our travelers

I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places

"I am drinking a rock tea from Wuyishan at home, a month after our trip. Brewed in a beautiful Yixing pot that I bought in actual Yixing, and tea from the mountain that I hiked on. I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places... I am reminiscing about this holiday a lot. It was just perfect. People were incredibly nice. We had wonderful encounters with lots of lovely different tea people and the people in our group where the best. Tea people are so nice. We saw incredible things, drank the best teas and had so much fun together. Everything that was abstract for me beforehand, became concrete while traveling. It's hard to capture my feelings in words, but but I am back home for a month now and there was not a single day that I didn't think about the trip. I wasn't homesick while traveling, but I am tripsick now.

And all of this took place under the caring and enthusiastic guidance of Vivian and Lorenzo, truly two of the most kind, warm-hearted and knowledgeable people that I know."

W.E., from The Netherlands

We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty

"I want to consider a different approach. I don't want to make a review of what went well and what didn't go well. I don't want to dwell on individual stages and describe a fantastic world. I reject any image of travel, tea, an extraordinary country and all that. I want to forget any kind of knowledge I have. Tea lovers already know all about these things. I want to tell them that they don't need "yesterday" because it is the necessary condition to savor any moment with its different temperatures, colors and fragrances. Isn't this what happens when you drink forgotten tea? Isn't it like drinking a new tea, after all? When we abandoned the concept of tea bags, what did we do? We entered an ancient forest for the first time. We put our hands in the clay. We tasted food with a sparkling and surprising flavour. We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty. And this is where the world of Eastern Leaves becomes real"

D.N., from Italy

Customized Trips

Tailor your trip, visit us Xishuangbanna for the time of a tea or for extended journeys: let us know about your plan and what you like the most, we are pleased to customise your time here according to your preferences.

Travel's FAQ

To join our tours it is requires a tourist visa: for travels up to 15 days, for most countries is not required; for tours longer than 14 days, it is a straightforward process that requires between 3 and 10 business days, according to the country and the processing way.

We offer all possible assistance based on the experiences of the travellers we have welcomed over the years from all over the world.

For the most recent news on China visa policy, we recommend visiting the website of the China Visa Application Center.

Sure! Food is an important part of our experience (and of our lives), so we plan it carefully.

Chinese cuisine is extremely diverse: it includes countless varieties of tofu and a variety of vegetable cooking techniques; we will encounter tuberoses and radishes, wild herbs and flowers: a plant-based diet, in addition to a onnivore diet, is entirely possible.

We also have experience with various dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, lactose intolerant, and religious restrictions; when you contact us, please let us know your needs and preferences, and we will gladly plan your meal accordingly.

As you are probably aware, we are huge fans of photography, particularly when done slowly and with passion: if you, too, enjoy cameras and pictures, it would be wonderful to share our enthusiasm along the way.

Photos and videos are permitted as long as they do not disrupt the flow of travel for our farmers and experts, ensuring a pleasant experience for all of our guests.

If you want a tour specifically designed for documentary purposes, complete with filming mics and equipment, please contact us in advance to plan a customised trip.

When you decide to book we advise to keep in touch with us, we will assist you as much as possible with flights from your country of origin, visas, and any preparation you may need. 

Visas for China have recently become easier to obtain for the majority of nationalities; for the most up-to-date visa rules, we recommend checking the official Chinese website and your local Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

Yes, if you wish, we can provide you with a digital or printed certificate for your travel experience into tea.

For travellers, China is one of the safest countries in the world, with extremely low crime rates, including pickpocketing.

Our commitment along the route is to keep you as safe as possible, both physically and mentally.

For our longer tours, we usually offer the option to join only a portion of the tour, for at least 12 days, based on availability.

If this is your wish, please contact us so that we can plan your trip together.

Find us

Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China

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