As the capital of East China’s Zhejiang Province and the ancient capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Hangzhou boasts as a Popular Cultural Tourist Destination worldwide. When mentioning Hangzhou, the first thing that comes to mind is West Lake. Without West Lake, Hangzhou would never be titled “Heaven on Earth“. However, the real allure of West Lake, a man-made wonder, lies not only in its beauty but also in the abundant wealth of poems, legends, and myths accumulated during the past dynasties.

Join our 1-Day Paradise Hangzhou Cultural Tour from Shanghai by High-Speed Train and enjoy a Romantic Hangzhou Day Trip, where you can immerse yourself in the living poetry of Su Dongpo (Su Shi苏轼) along the West Lake while experiencing the Longjing Tea Culture.

Your Hangzhou Tour will take you from exploring the intangible heritage of Longjing Tea (龙井茶) to visiting the World Cultural Heritage Site of West Lake (西湖) . By visiting the China National Tea Museum and Meijiawu Tea Village, you can delve deeper into Chinese Tea Culture and even participate in the Longjing Tea picking and frying process. You will gain an in-depth understanding of the tea ceremony during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), such as the tea art of Dian Cha (点茶, foam art on the teacup).

Then, move to discover West Lake (including Lingyin Temple), the Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou. Throughout China, no other lake has attracted so many poets, scholars, painters, sculptors, calligraphers, and even emperors for such an extended period. You can choose to take a hike, ride a bike, board a boat, or take a sightseeing bus to explore the poetic landscape of the West Lake. For Chinese people, West Lake is the best place to follow the 300 poems written by Su Dongpo (苏东坡), the classic legend of “The White Snake” (白蛇传) and the tragic romance of “The Butterfly Lovers“(梁祝). At last, strolling through the Qinghefang Street (清河坊街Hefang Street ) will bring you back to the scenes of prosperity at the foot of the old imperial city of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Marco Polo, the famous Italian traveler and merchant of the 13th century, described Hangzhou as “Beyond Dispute the Finest and Noblest in The World“. With a history of over 5,000 years, Hangzhou is a historic and cultural city that is worth your time to explore in person. Take our 1-Day Paradise Hangzhou Cultural Tour to lose yourself in the romantic living poetry of the “Paradise on Earth”.