Of all the tea in China, green tea is supposed to be the best. And the best green tea comes from the surrounding hillsides of Hangzhou, near a village called Longjing. The combination of soil, mild temperatures and spring fed water makes Hangzhou the Burgundy of Tea.

I love places where locals hang out. Places where I can sit somewhere in a corner and watch life go by, look at locals, see what they do, how they enjoy their free time, relax. Be it city squares, parks or shopping areas. If you actually sit and watch, you get the feel of the place. In China, tea houses are perfect for this “people watching” activity and whenever I guide, I always make a point to come to a park where locals sit down and hang out. One of my favorite cities in China is Chengdu…