Zhejiang is a coastal province in eastern China, on the southern shore of the Yangtze River Delta and the East China Sea. It is one of China's smallest provinces by land area yet one of its wealthiest and most densely populated, anchored by the historic capital Hangzhou and its famous West Lake. Zhejiang is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, sacred Buddhist mountain of Putuo Shan, tea plantations, and a coastline scattered with thousands of islands.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Zhejiang through its food.
Longjing Tea Picking and Tasting Experience
Includes: Walk through terraced Longjing tea plantations in Xihu District · Hands-on leaf picking during the spring harvest (late March-April) · Comparative tasting of Mingqian and Yuqian tea grades · Paired snack of Longjing shrimp or tea-boiled egg · Small-group format led by local tea growers
Hangzhou Home Cooking Class: Dongpo Pork and Longjing Shrimp
Includes: Guided market stop to select pork belly, river shrimp, and Longjing tea · Hands-on preparation of Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp · Instruction in Hangzhou's signature soy-wine-sugar seasoning balance · Sit-down tasting of both finished dishes with steamed rice · Small-group, cook-along format near West Lake
Hefang Street Food Walking Tour
Includes: Guided walk along the heritage Hefang Street pedestrian quarter · Tastings of scallion oil flatbread, zongzi, and hand-pulled sesame candy · Stop at a century-old traditional medicine and herbal-tea shop · Historical context on Hangzhou's Qing-dynasty trading street
Shaoxing Huangjiu Tasting Tour
Includes: Visit to a traditional huangjiu cellar and aging jars · Comparative tasting of aged versus young Shaoxing rice wine · Paired snacks of fennel beans, drunken chicken, and stinky tofu · Walk along the canal-side Bazi Bridge historic block
Ningbo Seafood Market and Old Bund Food Tour
Includes: Guided walk through a working Ningbo seafood market · Tastings of steamed yellow croaker and salt-and-pepper hairy crab · Century-old tangyuan shop stop on Zhongshan Road · Riverside walk through the historic Laowaitan concession district
Wuzhen Water Town Culinary Walking Tour
Includes: Canal-side walk through Wuzhen's covered wooden lanes · Tasting of Wuzhen braised pork and rice wine-marinated chicken · Stop at a traditional soy sauce fermentation workshop · Sampling of local pastries and preserved plums
Xitang Night Food Tour
Includes: Evening walk along lantern-lit canal lanes in Xitang Ancient Town · Tasting of spiced river snails and eight-immortals duck · Stop for wonton soup made with local river shrimp · River-view seating for a closing tea or rice-wine tasting
Hangzhou Tea Culture Museum and Tea Ceremony Experience
Includes: Guided visit through the China National Tea Museum exhibits · Formal Longjing tea ceremony led by a trained specialist · Comparative tasting of green, yellow, and aged tea grades · Overview of Hangzhou's centuries-old tea trade history
Shaoxing Old Town Snack and Canal Tour
Includes: Walk through the Luxun Road heritage district and canal bridges · Tastings of stinky tofu, mei cai kou rou, and fennel beans · Warmed huangjiu sample at a traditional rice-wine tavern · Literary context connecting the food stops to writer Lu Xun
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Zhejiang's food scene.
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Zhejiang home with you.
Hangzhou Home-Style Cooking Class
A hands-on class covering Dongpo pork, Longjing shrimp, and stir-fried greens using techniques passed down in Hangzhou home kitchens
Ningbo Tangyuan Making Class
A short workshop teaching how to shape and fill glutinous rice balls with black sesame paste, finished with a tasting of the fresh batch
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
High-speed rail links Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Ningbo in under an hour each, making a multi-city food itinerary easy to plan without an overnight stay in each town
Spring (March-April) is the best time for Longjing tea experiences, coinciding with the fresh tea harvest and Longjing shrimp season
Autumn and winter bring Ningbo's best hairy crab and yellow croaker, while huangjiu is traditionally served warm through the colder months
Portions in Zhejiang cuisine are often shared family-style, so ordering fewer dishes for a small group is usually enough
Cash is rarely needed; most restaurants and food stalls accept mobile payment apps, though some smaller stalls in water towns may prefer exact change