Best Time To Visit Longjing Tea Plantations

Best Time to Visit Longjing Tea Plantations in Hangzhou, China

To experience the Longjing tea plantations at their most vibrant, the spring season, especially late March to early April, is the prime time for a visit. This period is also known as the 'pre-Qingming' season, which refers to the time before the Qingming Festival, an important traditional Chinese holiday. During these weeks, the tea plants awaken from their winter dormancy, and the first tender shoots emerge, heralding the harvest of the highly prized "Mingqian" tea. This early harvest is celebrated for yielding the highest quality Longjing tea, as the young leaves possess a fresh, aromatic, and nuanced flavor. Therefore, a springtime trip allows visitors not only to behold the lush greenery of the plantations but also to partake in the joyous occasion of the first harvest, should they choose to participate in tea-picking tours.

Besides the optimal tea-picking opportunities, spring in Hangzhou offers a pleasant climate with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F), which is ideal for outdoor activities. However, if you miss the early spring window, visiting between late April and early May can still be delightful as the tea harvest continues and the weather remains comfortable. Although the later-harvested teas do not fetch the same premium as the "Mingqian" varieties, they still provide an excellent flavor profile. Travelers should be mindful that the Qingming Festival period can be quite busy with an influx of tourists, so advanced planning and early bookings are recommended. In the contrast of the lush hillsides, you'll also find an array of vibrant colors as other flora begin to bloom, adding to the scenic beauty of the plantations.