Tea is native to China, and Chinese people are believed to have enjoyed tea drinking for more than 4,000 years. The Classic of Tea (Cha Jing), wrote by Lu Yu, the Tea Sage of China, was considered as the world’s first comprehensive treatise on tea. This little book details rules concerning various aspects of tea, such as growth areas for tea trees, wares and skills for processing tea, tea tasting, the history of Chinese tea and quotations from other records, comments on tea from various places, and notes on what occasions tea wares should be complete and when some wares could be omitted.
Some writers classify tea into four categories, white, green, oolong and black, according to the fermentation level. Others add categories for red, scented and compressed teas. All of these come from varieties of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is the most popular type of tea consumed in China. 
Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China. During this tour, you will know about Chinese tea culture from following categories:
Green Tea: keeps the original color of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing, mainly consisting of Longjing Tea of Zhejiang, Maofeng of Huangshan, Biluochun of Jiangsu.
Black Tea: known as "Red Tea" in China, which is fermented before baking, the best brands of black tea are Qihong of Anhui, Dianhong of Yunnan, Suhong of Jiangsu, Chuanhong of Sichuan and Huhong of Hunan, this tour consists of Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, the originator of Chinese Red Tea. 
Oolong Tea: represents a variety half way between the green and the black tea, made after partial fermentation, it is a specialty from the provinces on China's southeast coast: Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan, this tour consists of Wuyi Yan Tea. 

Day01 Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing in the morning. Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Then, visit Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. (L,D)

Day02 Beijing
Today's highlight is the visit to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section, excluded cable car), Summer Palace. Stop at Olympic Park and outside view of National Stadium (Bird's Nest) and National Aquatics Center (Water Cube). (B,L,D)

Day03 Beijing-Wuxi   (overnight train)  
In the morning, you will take a rickshaw through some old "Hutongs", and walk around Nanluogu Lane. In the afternoon, visit Maliandao Tea Street. Take overnight train to Wuxi with soft sleeper (the first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day04 Wuxi-Yixing
Arrive in Wuxi and transfer to Yixing. Begin today's activity with the visit to Yixing Pottery Museum. Then, you will visit the Purple Sand Pottery Factory, and Red Pottery Arts Factory. (B,L,D)

Day05 Yixing-Suzhou
Drive to Suzhou in the morning.  Visit to Lion's Grove Garden, Garden of the Master of the Nets. You will also visit Silk Museum to see how the world's most beautiful silk is produced. Enjoy a boat on the Grand Canal. (B,L,D)

Day06 Suzhou-Hangzhou
Drive to Hangzhou, en route, pay a visit to Biluochun tea plantations on Taihu Lake. Visit Lingying Temple, Tiger Running Spring (Hupao Spring), and Tea Museum. People of all ages highly praise it after tasting a cup of Longjing Tea made of water from Hupao fountain. (B,L,D)

Day07 Hangzhou-Tunxi (Huangshan city)   
The morning is to appreciate the incomparably lovely West Lake with its soaring bridges and flower-bright islets. Enjoy a boat ride on West Lake. Then, transfer to Tunxi, stop to visit some Huangshan Tea Plantation en route. Stay overnight in Tunxi. (B,L,D)

Day08 Yellow Mountain 
This morning, you will ascend the Yellow Mountain by Yungu (Cloud Valley) station cable car up, and visit Yellow Mountain including Beginning-to-Believe Peak, the Lion Peak, Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion, Flying-over Rock, Bright Summit and sun-set. (B,L,D)

Day09 Yellow Mountain-Jingdezhen 
Get up early in the morning to watch the sun-rise. After breakfast, a 3.5-hour hike will be conducted to enjoy the premium views of the western side of Huangshan Mountain including the Sea-Turtle Peak, Lotus Peak, Jade Screen Peak, Guest-welcoming Pine before taking the Yuping cable car down the mountain and transfer to Jingdezhen. Check in hotel on arrival. (B,L,D)

Day10 Jingdezhen-Wuyishan
After breakfast, pay a visit Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, Hutian Ancient Kiln Site, Gaoling Mountain Original Kaolin Mine. Then, trasnfer to Wuyishan (330km). Check in hotel on arrival. (B,L,D)

Day11 Wuyishan
Visit Dahongpao (Big Red Robe) Park and the Water Curtain Cave. Meet Tea Master (Traditional Rock Oolong Tea),  from his garden to his workshop, the tea master will show you the entire process of picking and producing traditional rock oolong teas. He will teach how different bushes, soils, roasting techniques, and grades all yield different flavors of oolong. Come thirsty!we’ll taste a lot of tea today! Stay overnight in Wuyishan. (B,L,D)

Day12 Wuyishan 
After breakfast, you will visit Clouds and Mist Nest, Floating Top and Peach Blossom Taoist temple. In the afternoon, take a bamboo raft sightseeing of the Stream with Nine Turnings.  Then, pay a visit to the site of the Wuyi Palace, Zhuxi Garden and walk around Song Dynasty Ancient Street. (B,L,D) 

Day13 Wuyishan
Today's highlight is to visit Tong Mu Village (Lapsang Souchong Black Tea). You'll take a break from oolongs to visit Tong Mu Village, nestled in the Tong Mu Natural Preserve, which is the home of Lapsang Souchong. You'll meet the family who has been responsible for authentic Lapsang Souchong for many generations, and see a 100-year-old tea factory constructed entirely of wood. You'll learn why this tea is smoky and have an opportunity to witness the whole process of making this special tea, starting with the famous black tea bush, the "Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong", in family's wild tea garden. Stay overnight in Bao Dao Hotel in Wuyishan. (B,L,D)

Day14 Wuyishan-Shanghai  
Today's highlight is to know Wuyi Yan Tea (Wuyi Rock Tea). Visit the local villages, historical Caogong village and Yulonggu Waterfall. Then, transfer to the railway station, and take overnight train to Shanghai with soft sleeper (the first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin).  (B,L,D)

Day15 Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai in the morning, and transfer to the hotel for breakfast. Visit the Bund,Yuyuan Garden, Chenghuangmiao (known as Yuyuan Garden Market) and Jade Buddha Temple. Enjoy a fabulous Acrobatic Show in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day16 Shanghai
Visit Shanghai Museum (excluded audio guide), Xujiahui Cathedral, Shanghai French Concession, Dongtai Road Antique Market. (B,L,D)

Day17 Depart from Shanghai 
Transfer to the airport and prepare for boarding on your homebound flight. TOUR ENDS! (B)
Note: B-Breakfast  L-Lunch  D-Dinner

Culture links:   
Biluochun: Biluochun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dong Ting mountain of Tai Hu, Jiangsu Province. It is renowned for its delicate appearance, fruity taste, floral aroma, showy white hairs and early cropping. Biluochun is divided into seven grades: Supreme, SupremeⅠ, GradeⅠ, Grade Ⅱ, Grade Ⅲ, Chao QingⅠ & Chao QingⅡ, and the quality vary from Supreme down to Chao Qing.