•
1 22

Educational Tea Tour - Wu Yi Shan

$5,800.00 USD
$5,800.00 USD

Choose Trip Length

Join us for Tea Trip 2025!

Let's go to Wu Yi Shan together! This is an exclusive Educational Tea Tour with one of our Yan Cha producers that previously was only available to Chinese, now for the first time open to tea lovers from around the world!

Wu Yi Shan is currently China’s most prestigious tea region. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is double recognized for its cultural AND natural significance! Immerse yourself in the dramatic Danxia landform cliffs, and embark on an extraordinary journey into the legendary Yan Cha (Cliff Tea) - the crown jewel of Min Bei Wu Long teas.

Steep yourself in the profound world of this dark roasted Wu Long, where the mantra "rock bone and floral fragrance" comes to life. Experience first hand how the unique rocky terroir imparts an extraordinary "molten stone" mouthfeel to these prestigious teas, while learn from highly respected tea makers the traditional crafting methods passed down through generations.

This Educational Tea Tour takes you to the heart of the world’s most prized teas! We’ll learn in the field and hands on.

This small-group exclusive tour offers unprecedented access to:

  • The prestigious Zheng Yan (True Cliff) terroir – the core UNESCO site where the most prized teas are cultivated, including visits to many legendary lots like Jiu Long Ke where the original Da Hong Pao trees are and Niu Lan Keng where the world’s most expensive tea grows.
  • Hands-on tea making experience with heritage tea masters, learning the intricate art of traditional tea processing, from hand Yao Qing to charcoal roasting
  • Expert-led tea tastings and evaluations with First Grade National Level Tea Evaluators, taste like judges while mastering essentials like quality and cultivar identifications!

Immerse yourself in the spiritual and cultural dimensions of tea through:

  • Visits to ancient temples including the thousand-year-old Tian Xin Yong Le Chan Si, where the legend of Da Hong Pao began
  • Practice of Zen and Tea at Rui Yan Temple, experiencing tea's deep connection with Buddhist traditions
  • Exploration of Daoist culture at Zhi Zhi An, understanding tea's role in Chinese spirituality

Experience the rich tapestry of Chinese tea culture through:

  • Traditional tea services at the Empty Field Tea House, where you'll learn the aesthetics of Chinese tea culture
  • Study of classical teaware, including the fine porcelains of Jing De Zhen and the local black porcelain of Jian Zhan
  • Walking tours of the historic Wu Yi Palace Song Dynasty Street and Xia Mei Ancient Residences, connecting with the region’s cultural heritage and long tea history
  • Witness the spectacular "Impression Da Hong Pao" performance, directed by renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou

Natural wonders await as you:

  • Glide through the scenic Nine-Bend Stream on traditional bamboo rafts
  • Explore the Da An Yuan Nature Reserve with its 98% forest coverage
  • Hike to the famous Tian You Peak for breathtaking views

Join us for this transformative journey where every sip tells a story of terroir, tradition, and timeless expertise. FEEL the vitality of the tea plant and finesse your palate in endless possibilities. 

Note from Shunan: There’s no better way to learn about tea than seeing, feeling and doing it yourself. I’ve always been very keen on sharing tea county experiences with fellow tea lovers, hoping to connect how charming tea really is with behind the scene actions. Taking people to tea country where you can experience this firsthand has been a big dream of mine for years. Frankly, there's so much logistics that I don't want to deal with and some tea regions are completely without any form of accommodations. But now we finally can, thanks to amazing partners! So let's go!

You have the option to join us on either a 6 day or 10 day trip.

Six Days: March 28 – April 2, 2025

Ten Days: March 28 – April 7, 2025

Includes:

  • All local transportation in Wu Yi Shan, including picking up and dropping off to airport and train stations
  • Hotels and Accommodations at Luxury Local Boutique Hotels
    • Price includes double occupancy, $200 more each day for single occupancy
  • All Meals and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
  • All Class Materials
  • All Entrance Tickets within Itinerary of the Educational Tea Tour
  • Professional Photographs Throughout
  • English Translation

Excludes:

  • International Flight to and from Wu Yi Shan
  • Personal Tea and Gift Purchases

About Educational Tea Tour - Wu Yi Shan

March 28 – April 2, 2025 (6 Days) | March 28 – April 7, 2025 (10 Days)
________________________________________
Day 1
Arrival and Reception
• Pick up from airport of train stations
• Check into Hotel
________________________________________
Day 2
Morning:
• Welcome Tea Session
• Review of Tea Tour Agenda
• Tea Foundation Course – Introduction to Wu Yi Shan - History, Culture and Tea
o Tasting of Wu Yi Yan Cha
Afternoon:
• Meet the Terroir - A Guided Tour of Zheng Yan Terroir
depending on the weather, we’ll visit to some of the most famed micro terroir within Zheng Yan terroir of the beautiful UNESCO Heritage Site of Wu Yi Shan
• Jiu Long Ke (Nine Dragon Pit) - where the Mother Tree Da Hong Pao is
• Hui Yuan Keng (Wisdom Garden Pit) - the center of Zheng Yan terroir
Evening:
• Live Performance – “Impression Da Hong Pao”
o A large-scale live performance directed by the famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou, taking five years to create, themed around Wuyi rock tea.
________________________________________
Day 3
Morning:
• Bamboo Rafting on Nine-Bend Stream & Sightseeing
This is a must-do in Wu Yi Shan and a great way to take in the scenic landscape that give us so much cultural history and amazing tea.
• Walking tour of Wu Yi Palace Song Dynasty Street
A recreated historic street that takes us back to Song Dynasty, an era that marked a height of tea culture in Chinese history.
• Visit Daoist Culture Site (Zhi Zhi An)
Afternoon:
• Workshop - Handmaking Tea
o A tour of a handmaking tea facility, led by seasoned famous tea masters and heritage tea farmers
o Hands-on experience in traditional tea-making techniques, including hand-rolling, sifting, and traditional charcoal roasting.
• Cultivate Your Palate
o A Comparative Tasting of Machine-made vs. Handmade Yan Cha.
• Meet the Terroir - A Guided Tour of Niu Lan Keng (Cow Fence Dip)
o the crown jewel of Zheng Yan Terroir!
Evening:
• Tea Tasting Session - A Survey of Wu Yi Yan Cha
________________________________________
Day 4
Morning:
• Tea Evaluation Workshop I - Signature Yan Cha Cultivars of Wu Yi Shan
• Tea Evaluation Workshop II - Signature Red Teas of Wu Yi Shan
o Survey a range of cultivars in Wu Yi Shan like professionals in the format of tea evaluation led by seasoned First Grade National Level Tea Evaluator.
o Opportunity to learn with “Standard Samples” to gauge what is good and bad in a tea, including assessing authenticity of highly counterfeited teas like Jin Jun Mei
Afternoon:
• Tea Culture and Art - Tian Xin Yong Le Chan Si - Where the Legend of Da Hong Pao started
o A discussion of tea and culture in this thousand-year old temple
• Meet the Producer
o Interactive Tasting of Teas from Many Wu Yi Shan Farmers and Producers
________________________________________
Day 5
Morning:
• Tea Foundational Course - Teaware
o Fine Porcelains of Jing De Zhen
o Black Porcelain of Jian Zhan - A Wu Yi Shan Specialty!
Afternoon:
• Tea Art and Culture
o Gong Fu Cha
o Tea and Snacks
o The Origin of Powdered Tea and Matcha - A Demonstration of Song Dynasty Mo Cha
o Guided Tea Tasting and Discussion
Evening:
• Group Dinner - Farewell for Participants leaving
________________________________________
Day 6
For participants who are leaving on the 6th day:
• Morning - Check out of Hotel
• Drop off to Airport or Train Station for those leaving in 6 days
For participants who are continuing:
Morning:
• Tea Art and Culture - A Visit to Xiang Jiang Tea Culture Park
o the Largest Tea Culture Museum in Wu Yi Shan
• Meet the Terroir - Yan Zi Keng (Swallow Pit) National Ecological Tea Field
Afternoon:
• Tea Art and Culture - Explore the Historic Xia Mei Ancient Residences
o the starting point of the Jin Merchants’ Tea Trade Route.
• Tea Art and Culture - Chinese Aesthetics
o A Traditional Tea Experience at Empty Field Tea House
________________________________________
Day 7
Morning:
• Meet the Terroir - Ma Tou Yan (Horse Head Rock)
A tour of one of the most famous micro terroir of Wu Yi Shan Zheng Yan and to make it extra special, we’ll be meeting two farmers who each own the mother tree of a rare cultivar - Bai Mu Dan and Zhu Ye Qing
Afternoon:
• Meet the Cultivar (in the field): A Tour and Tasting with Owner of the Mother Tree Bai Mu Dan
• Meet the Cultivar (in the field): A Tour and Tasting with Owner of the Rare Cultivar Zhu Ye Qing
________________________________________
Day 8
Morning:
• A Tour of Da An Yuan Nature Reserve - 98% forest coverage!
Afternoon:
• Tea Art and Culture - Chan Cha (zen tea) at Rui Yan Temple
Evening:
• Vegetarian Dinner at Rui Yan Temple
________________________________________
Day 9
Morning:
• A Hike to the Famous Tian You Peak – One of Wu Yi Shan’s most iconic spot.
Afternoon:
• Meet the Terroir - Hu Xiao Yan (Tiger Roaring Rock)
o This terroir is also a must-visit scenic are of Wu Yi Shan
Evening:
• Farewell Dinner
________________________________________
Day 10
• Morning - Check out of Hotel
• Drop off to Airport or Train Station