Qianzhang Yougu Tea Garden and Tea Tour in Xinchang County, Shaoxing
Qianzhang Yougu Tea Garden in Xinchang, Shaoxing City
Located in the scenic area of Shijiufeng in the western part of Xinchang, Qianzhang Yougu Tea Garden (浙江绍兴市新昌县千丈幽谷茶园) is renowned for producing high-altitude tea, “Wanghai Yunwu.” At the entrance of Qianzhang Yougu, there is a large plantation of Dafolongjing tea. The winding forest paths and the fresh mountain air add to the verdant atmosphere.
Within the scenic area, there is an ideal spot for tea drinking. Qianzhang Yougu stands tall with trickling streams and chirping birds providing a harmonious background. Sitting on a bamboo chair, sipping the light and elegant green tea, one feels a classical charm. Tasting tea on the mountain naturally includes the pleasures of hiking and exploring, offering broad vistas and a sense of transcendence.
Climbing and Viewing the Nineteen Peaks
“Chuanyan’s peaks reach high into the sky, with nineteen summits touching the heavens.” The Nineteen Peaks, located in Jingling Town of Xinchang, consist of Chuanyan Nineteen Peaks, Qianzhang Pit, Taitou Mountain, and Daotuo Boot. This Danxia landscape is truly magnificent. Climbing the Nineteen Peaks provides breathtaking views from the summit, with pastoral and rural scenery stretching out below.
Xinchang County has a deep tea culture with over 1500 years of tea production history. It is the birthplace of “tribute tea” and the origin of Chinese tea culture. From Tianmu Mountain to the Nineteen Peaks, from Dafosi Temple to Xiayanbei, Xinchang, known as the “Southeastern Brow,” seamlessly integrates tea culture with Buddhist and Taoist traditions, the Tang poetry road, cultural celebrities, and local customs.
A Thousand Years of Buddhist Ties and the “Zen Tea”
Route: Xinchang Dafosi Temple Highlights: Smell the fresh aroma of “Dafolongjing” tea, follow in the footsteps of over 300 Tang dynasty poets, observe tea rituals and pray, and enjoy a cup of Dafolongjing tea picked and processed in the ancient temple garden. Experience the wonderful fusion of Zen and tea culture.
Dafosi Temple Scenic Area (4A)
Address: No. 117 Renmin West Road, Nanming Street, Xinchang County Consultation Phone: 0575-86383030
Tea flourished in monasteries, and Zen was elevated through tea drinking. The concept of “Zen and tea as one” has been inseparable since ancient times. “Exploring tea and seeking Zen” is a journey into Zen tea culture and a form of spiritual practice.
Dafosi Temple, founded in the early years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, over 1600 years ago, is one of the birthplaces of sinicized Buddhism and Zen tea culture. Prominent figures such as the high monk Zhidun, the poet Li Bai, the tea saint Lu Yu, the tea monk Jiao Ran, and modern tea saint Wu Juenong have left their marks here, profoundly influencing the history of tea production in Xinchang County.
The Dafosi Cultural Tourism Area is the core zone of the Tianmu Mountain National Scenic Area, leading in global tourism, and a significant origin of sinicized Buddhism, a landmark on the Eastern Zhejiang Tang Poetry Road, and the birthplace of Zen tea culture. It is a multifunctional, comprehensive cultural tourism area integrating sightseeing, pilgrimage, geological education, folk experiences, and Zen leisure.
Dafosi Temple is a large-scale temple, scattered in an orderly manner in a small valley. The combination of prosperity and tranquility, grandness and subtlety, is ingeniously unified in the valley of Shicheng Mountain, excelling in both historical culture and natural scenery. This may be the secret to the temple’s enduring popularity. If you have time, explore the surrounding peaks for a different experience from wandering between the temple buildings and immersing in the Buddhist atmosphere.
The world-famous “Dafolongjing” tea is named after Xinchang Dafosi Zen Temple, growing in the high mountain mists that captivated Li Bai. It is one of Zhejiang’s top ten famous teas, winning over 100 gold awards at national and international tea expos.
Outside the main hall of the largest Buddha statue in Jiangnan, there is a site for live tea processing. Here, you can drink freshly picked and processed Longjing tea from the ancient temple garden, enjoying the warm sunshine and a smile, savoring the Zen-like peace of the tea.
Zen Meditation Experience
A millennium of Buddhist ties and the “Zen Tea.” Tea and Zen, neither should be missed. Monks comprehend the true meaning of Buddhism through the fragrance of tea, while visitors cleanse their souls in the same scent. The purity and tranquility of Zen are also the two main characteristics of “Dafolongjing” tea. The tea fragrance intertwines with the rhythmic sounds of wooden fish, inseparable from each other.
Explore Qianzhang Yougu and Taste “Dafolongjing”
Route: Nineteen Peaks – Qianzhang Yougu Longjing Tea Garden – Chongyang Palace Xiaoyao Pavilion, Yougu Tea House Highlights: The Nineteen Peaks route combines Taoist wellness, mountain and water leisure, and agricultural picking, making it perfect for family vacations, weekend trips, parent-child outings, and group tours.
Nineteen Peaks Scenic Area (4A)
Address: Henglian Village, Chengtang Street, Xinchang County Consultation Phone: 0575-86251638
Qianzhang Yougu Tea Garden in Xinchang, with Dafolongjing complementing the lake and mountain scenery.
“Chuanyan’s peaks reach high into the sky, with nineteen summits touching the heavens.” The Nineteen Peaks are located in Jingling Town, Xinchang, consisting of Chuanyan Nineteen Peaks, Qianzhang Pit, Taitou Mountain, and Daotuo Boot, forming a spectacular Danxia landscape.
Three things make the Nineteen Peaks worth visiting: the beautiful mountains and waters of the Nineteen Peaks scenic area, the delicious Dafolongjing tea produced here, and the authentic Chongyang health cuisine at the foot of the mountain.
The Nineteen Peaks Scenic Area produces Dafolongjing tea, with a large tea garden at the entrance of Qianzhang Yougu, filled with Zen and celestial vibes. Over a thousand peach and cherry blossoms and more than 300 acres of rapeseed flowers bloom successively. The winding forest paths and fresh mountain air add to the verdant charm.
There is a great spot for tea drinking in the scenic area, the bamboo pavilion in Qianzhang Yougu, where trickling streams and chirping birds complement each other. Sitting on a bamboo chair, sipping the light green tea, it feels like being transported back to the era of ancient literati, drinking wine and composing poetry.
Within the Nineteen Peaks Scenic Area lies Chongyang Palace, a renowned Taoist site in Eastern Zhejiang. During the Six Dynasties, notable Taoists and literati such as Ge Hong, Gu Huan, Wei Boyang, Wang Xizhi, and Xie Lingyun retreated and roamed here. In the Tang dynasty, it was frequented by high-level Taoists like Sima Chengzhen, Wu Yun, and Li Bai.
In the Xiaoyao Pavilion by the Yuqing Pond of Chongyang Palace, one can enjoy a cup of high-mountain Dafolongjing, quietly observing the flowers, admiring the natural scenery, savoring the tea aroma, and slowly appreciating life.
For travelers passing by the Nineteen Peaks, remember that there is always a cup of tea waiting for you here.
Spring Outings to Yunshang Mingxiang Village
Route: Xiayanbei Village, Dongming Township – Shixiakeng Village – Waipo Pit Village Highlights: Climb tea mountains, pick fresh buds, make Longjing tea, paint tea landscapes, and learn to sing tea mountain love songs. Experience tea picking and processing, appreciate the tea village’s charm, and enjoy authentic Dafolongjing tea. Perfect for family weekend trips and group tours.
Xiayanbei Village
In spring, a visit to Xinchang’s tea mountains is a must, especially the tea gardens in Xiayanbei, Wunigang, and Qiaoyingxuexi. These tea gardens not only cultivate tea but also develop new tourism forms such as tea garden cycling and tea leaf picking, making them popular tourist destinations.
“Far up the cold mountain stone path slants, where amid white clouds there are homes,” wrote Du Mu, describing the mountain-top homes that still captivate people centuries later. The clouds winding around the peaks of Xiayanbei Village fulfill all such fantasies.
Located on the rocky slopes of the mountain, Xiayanbei Village got its name from its location, with “bei” meaning back or slope, and was later changed to “bei” as in treasure due to the homophony. The hundred-mile Danxia road here has been a favorite hiking route for poets since the Tang dynasty, with the most famous being the poet Li Bai and his renowned poem “A Farewell to a Friend.”
Spring in Xiayanbei is a time of picturesque tea gardens. The spring sun gently falls on Xiayanbei, warm breezes pass over the tea gardens, sunlight dances on green leaves, creating a scene like a green fairyland. During this time, visitors can also enjoy tea garden cycling, outdoor yoga, bonfire parties, and star-gazing camping.
The expansive tea gardens of Xiayanbei cover 1300 acres, with each household having an average of 5 acres of tea gardens. The peak tea-picking season lasts from March to October each year.
The village offers an “experience package” for visitors, including climbing the tea mountain, picking fresh tea buds, making Longjing tea, and painting tea landscapes. Additionally, they can learn tea mountain love songs from tea-picking experts and enjoy the tea culture, feeling the authenticity and charm of the tea village.
Waipo Pit Village
Waipo Pit, located in Dongming Township, Xinchang County, is surrounded by mountains and water, boasting rich tea resources and a serene natural environment. The tea grown here is called “Shanyu Yunwu Tea,” with unique processing techniques that have been passed down through generations.
During spring outings, visitors can enjoy the sight of tea leaves growing lushly on the terraces and the sound of mountain streams flowing. Here, you can pick fresh tea leaves, experience traditional tea processing methods, and taste the unique flavor of Shanyu Yunwu Tea.
In addition to tea picking, visitors can explore the ancient village, appreciate the traditional architecture, and enjoy the slow-paced rural life. The village also offers various cultural activities such as tea ceremonies, folk music performances, and local cuisine tasting, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tea culture and rural heritage of Waipo Pit.
For a unique and immersive tea culture experience, a visit to Waipo Pit Village in Xinchang is highly recommended.
Conclusion
Xinchang offers a diverse and rich tea culture experience, from the historical and cultural significance of Dafosi Temple and its Zen tea traditions to the picturesque tea gardens and villages like Xiayanbei and Waipo Pit. Whether you are a tea enthusiast or just looking for a relaxing getaway, Xinchang’s tea culture tour provides a perfect blend of nature, culture, and tranquility.
