Check out this wonderful NY Times feature, with pics and sound, on a teahouse in Hangzhou. My current plan is to take you to a tea plantation outside of Hangzhou where you can see the real deal grown. These tea plantations are quite beautiful. Tea is a big, big, big part of China. Get ready to drink lots of it.

You should also be reading up on Hangzhou in your travel book. We will likely use Hangzhou to catch some rest and relaxation from the fast pace of the trip. Hangzhou is where many of China’s artists and writers used to come live after they made their fortune. That pattern continues today. Marco Polo, who once took a boat ride on the famous West Lake in Hangzhou, called it one of the most wonderful experiences of his life. I would agree.

I am interested in hearing if you are interested in visiting a tea plantation, and, based on what you read on your own time about Hangzhou, how you feel about spending some time there. In my own view, it is less crowded and crazy than Guangzhou and Shanghai. Comment away.