Longjing Tea Fields Loop (Meijiawu-Shili Langdang-Longjing Village)

The Longjing Tea Fields Loop links Meijiawu Village, the Shili Langdang ('Ten-Li Fragrant Road') corridor, and Longjing Village in Hangzhou's Xihu District, an area reachable by Bus Y3 or K27 to either Meijiawu or Longjing Village, about 30-40 minutes from West Lake by bus or roughly 20 minutes by taxi or DiDi. The 6 km loop climbs and descends through rolling tea-hill terrain with a cumulative elevation change of roughly 100-150 m (330-490 ft), typically taking 3-4 hours at a relaxed pace with stops. The route follows a mix of paved village roads and packed-dirt paths cutting between terraced tea plantations, with minimal shade in the open tea-field sections and more tree cover along the connecting village lanes. There is no technical difficulty and no significant exposure, though the open terraced sections can be sunny and warm at midday. Landmarks along the loop include the terraced Longjing tea gardens themselves, roadside farmhouses selling and roasting tea, the Shili Langdang scenic corridor with its rows of tea bushes, and Longjing Village at the route's namesake endpoint, known for its West Lake Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea. Most visitors treat Longjing Village as the natural end point before looping back toward Meijiawu. There are no refuge huts, but the villages along the way have numerous tea houses, restaurants, and public restrooms, making this one of the better-served hikes in the area. Water and tea are readily available for purchase throughout. The loop is most rewarding during the March-April spring tea-picking season, when pickers work the hillsides and freshly roasted tea can be tasted and bought directly from farmhouses, though the rolling green terraces are pleasant to walk through in September-November as well.