Travel: China - Shanghai

[jetsetter]

fatmama75:

Any ideas where to buy longjin tea in Hangzhou? My gf wants me to help her buy but I am not sure which place to go to. I checked TripAdvisor and there's a Hangzhou Longjinshan Tea Cultural Village. Is that the plc?


Are the longjin tea at 'kill people set fire' prices at this plc? Or it's indeed the rt plc to buy authentic longjin tea?

Is she a hardcore discerning sort of green tea drinker? If not, u can just grab a pack from many tea shops near West Lake or the Duty free at SH airport. But if she really is fussy abt her leaves, then there are 8 Longjing SPECIALTY shops with the Golden Trademark endorsed by the tea association or something.
杭州有8家“西湖龙井茶专卖店”, 曙光路5号、武林路464号、清河坊187号、平海路30号、教工路125号,延安路296号、西湖大道68号和邮电路90号

If u go to HZ now in year-end, u might be sold the cheap 陈茶 \"old tea\" (autumn longjing or summer longjing) even though they might let u sample the 明前 \"Before Qingming\" tea (spring tea). Anything before Apr is sky-rocket prices, with early Mar harvest being the most ex (over CNY1,500 for 250g)

[jjxy mum]

fatmama75:

Any ideas where to buy longjin tea in Hangzhou? My gf wants me to help her buy but I am not sure which place to go to. I checked TripAdvisor and there's a Hangzhou Longjinshan Tea Cultural Village. Is that the plc?


Are the longjin tea at 'kill people set fire' prices at this plc? Or it's indeed the rt plc to buy authentic longjin tea?

Hi,

During our trip2-3 yrs ago, we got a cab driver that brought us for a 1 day trip around Hangzhou, he send us to Lingyin Temple and a place that sell Longjing Tea(should be Longjing Village as you had mentioned). He brought us to a tea house and 2 ladies attended us and serve us with 2 types Longjing tea. The tea (at least 1-2kg was wrapped in brown paper wrapper). We bought 2 small tins of it. Their taste is much better than the one that we bought from shopping mall tea house( even my kids said so). when we back Sg, and did some comparison, the one from the village looks fresher than the one at shopping mall. Prices varies depending on their grades.

[floppy]

fatmama75:

Hi floppy,

May I pls ask where did you get the local tour from? Online? Do you have any recommendations? How much did you pay for this local tour? I heard from other relatives that the prices for these day tours can vary. Thanks!

For local tours, stick to the official (i.e. government run) tours unless you enjoy being detoured to shopping tours/temple tours etc (great for stories after your tour, but absolutely horrible while you are at it).

In Shanghai, stick to http://www.chinassbc.com/. They can be found in 2 locations (check their website for more locations, but these 2 are the easiest to find - given that they are located in big stadiums):
1. 虹口分站（东江湾路444号) - 虹口足球场5号门
2. 杨浦分站（隆昌路640号）- 上海杨浦体育场

Prices are reasonable and they have a variety of packages to choose from.

[fatmama75]

Thanks Floppy.

floppy:

fatmama75:

Hi floppy,

May I pls ask where did you get the local tour from? Online? Do you have any recommendations? How much did you pay for this local tour? I heard from other relatives that the prices for these day tours can vary. Thanks!

For local tours, stick to the official (i.e. government run) tours unless you enjoy being detoured to shopping tours/temple tours etc (great for stories after your tour, but absolutely horrible while you are at it).

In Shanghai, stick to http://www.chinassbc.com/. They can be found in 2 locations (check their website for more locations, but these 2 are the easiest to find - given that they are located in big stadiums):
1. 虹口分站（东江湾路444号) - 虹口足球场5号门
2. 杨浦分站（隆昌路640号）- 上海杨浦体育场

Prices are reasonable and they have a variety of packages to choose from.

[fatmama75]

Hi everyone


So far this is what I planned.

8Dec - arrive in Shanghai
9Dec - Suzhou
10Dec - Wuzhen, Tongli
11Dec - Hangzhou
12Dec - Hangzhou
13Dec - Return to Shanghai
18Dec - Depart Shanghai

Does anyone have recommendations for a private driver to fetch me at Suzhou on 10Dec to Tongli and from Tongli to Hangzhou on 11Dec?

My husband isnt comfortable about taking buses between these 3 places. Or is there any other alternatives?

Thanks…Kelly

[seaglass]

fatmama75:

Hi everyone


So far this is what I planned.

8Dec - arrive in Shanghai
9Dec - Suzhou
10Dec - Wuzhen, Tongli
11Dec - Hangzhou
12Dec - Hangzhou
13Dec - Return to Shanghai
18Dec - Depart Shanghai

Does anyone have recommendations for a private driver to fetch me at Suzhou on 10Dec to Tongli and from Tongli to Hangzhou on 11Dec?

My husband isnt comfortable about taking buses between these 3 places. Or is there any other alternatives?

Thanks...Kelly

Sorry, I don't have any recommendation for driver, but I believe most hotel front desk can help. It's a popular day-trip thing from Suzhou to Tongli so the transport should be quite easy to arrange..

From your itinerary, it seems you are staying in either Tongli or Wuzhen for one night? That must be nice! Mind sharing which hotel / B&B did you book? Thanks!

[seaglass]

Been to a few "water towns" (水乡古镇) around Shanghai (eg. 周庄, 乌镇) but never got to stay there overnight… Anyone has recommendations as to which towns are the nicest for staying there? How about 同里, 西塘, or 南浔?? Thanks!!


Am hoping to get to stay in one of those rustic old houses right next to the little rivers and bridges… I believe the early morning and evening sceneries are the nicest… and before all the tourists arrive, too…

[fatmama75]

Hi seaglass


I booked a Minsu Triple Room A at Wuzhen Guesthouse. It has very good reviews in Tripadvisor. Yes I like to spend 1 night on this town before traveling to Hangzhou.

seaglass:

fatmama75:

Hi everyone

So far this is what I planned.

8Dec - arrive in Shanghai
9Dec - Suzhou
10Dec - Wuzhen, Tongli
11Dec - Hangzhou
12Dec - Hangzhou
13Dec - Return to Shanghai
18Dec - Depart Shanghai

Does anyone have recommendations for a private driver to fetch me at Suzhou on 10Dec to Tongli and from Tongli to Hangzhou on 11Dec?

My husband isnt comfortable about taking buses between these 3 places. Or is there any other alternatives?

Thanks...Kelly

Sorry, I don't have any recommendation for driver, but I believe most hotel front desk can help. It's a popular day-trip thing from Suzhou to Tongli so the transport should be quite easy to arrange..

From your itinerary, it seems you are staying in either Tongli or Wuzhen for one night? That must be nice! Mind sharing which hotel / B&B did you book? Thanks!

[jetsetter]

seaglass:

Been to a few \"water towns\" (水乡古镇) around Shanghai (eg. 周庄, 乌镇) but never got to stay there overnight.. Anyone has recommendations as to which towns are the nicest for staying there? How about 同里, 西塘, or 南浔?? Thanks!!


Am hoping to get to stay in one of those rustic old houses right next to the little rivers and bridges.. I believe the early morning and evening sceneries are the nicest.. and before all the tourists arrive, too..

Hi Seaglass

You can check out ctrip.com (China's tripadvisor) for photos, location and locals' reviews. I'm not sure if you're looking at 客栈、 宅院 or 弄堂, but you can take your pick at ctrip. I just did a quick search could already see a few that appear very nice. Others look very tacky to me...LOL.

http://hotels.ctrip.com/hotel/97558.html?startdate=2013-11-08&depdate=2013-11-10&allianceid=4906&sid=130838&ouid=000401app-R&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_source=&isctrip=

http://www.jytkz.com/

http://hotels.ctrip.com/hotel/48919.html

[Dnls_mum]

seaglass:

Been to a few \"water towns\" (水乡古镇) around Shanghai (eg. 周庄, 乌镇) but never got to stay there overnight.. Anyone has recommendations as to which towns are the nicest for staying there? How about 同里, 西塘, or 南浔?? Thanks!!


Am hoping to get to stay in one of those rustic old houses right next to the little rivers and bridges.. I believe the early morning and evening sceneries are the nicest.. and before all the tourists arrive, too..

Wuzhen Xizha has nice boutique hotels. The place is beautiful at nite so worth staying overnight.