Exploring the Tea Culture of SHANGHAI and HANGZHOU
Once called the Paris of the East, Shanghai has now taken on the reputation of being the New York of Asia thanks, in part, to its renewed renown as a hub of culture, fashion, art, and design. Known for its soaring skyscrapers that mirror the skyline of Manhattan, China’s most-populated city has boomed in the last two decades. Yet, tea, served in many forms, great and small, continues to infuse the life of the city. Tea lovers will appreciate the fact that this world-class destination provides an elegant and fascinating entrée into China’s ancient and fabled Long Jing tea gardens in nearby Hangzhou.
The tea capital of China is but an hour away from Shanghai once you board the Hangzhou-bound bullet train—top speed of 217 miles per hour—at Hongqiao Railway Station. Italian explorer Marco Polo deemed it “the most graceful and splendid city in the world” when he visited in the 13th century. Once one of China’s seven ancient capitals, Hangzhou was known for its placid lakes and gardens, which served as inspiration to West Lake poets and philosophers.
Marco Polo would be amazed today to see this sprawling urban area known as the “Silicon Valley of China” and home to 9 million residents. Away from its busy streets and soaring skyscrapers, tourists can still discover a taste of Old Hangzhou by
