Our adventure begins in the capital city of Beijing, China’s political and cultural heart for over 800 years. The bustling metropolis incorporates historical sights and relics along side modern architecture and conveniences. After being met by our guides we transfer to our hotel and rest from the flight.

Day 1 – Our first day begins with a short orientation and welcome then we board our private coach and depart for China’s most notable landmark, the Great Wall. After lunch we visit the Summer Palace, retreat of the Qing Dynasty rulers. We stop for a guided tour through a jade carving factory and shops before enjoying our dinner at the Beijing Duck restaurant. Our evening is topped when we take in the amazing performances at the Spectacular Martial Arts stage show.

Day 2 – After breakfast we take a walk through a Hu Tong, the traditional Beijing-style home, now being razed to make way for modern buildings. Before lunch we wander around the largest square in the world, Tian An Men. Crossing under the busy Chang An Ave., Beijing’s main street, we arrive at the remarkable Forbidden City, lavish residence of the Emperors of three dynasties. At the Cloisonne factory we’ll have a chance to see the colorful art-craft being made. After dinner we take a stroll along Wang Fu Jing, Beijing’s Rodeo Dr., and taste our way across the country at the lively food stalls.

Day 3 – This morning we visit a tea supermarket. Shop after shop of wonderful teas and treasures await. Next, we go to school and lean some useful Chinese words and phrases at the Beijing Language Institute. We’ll also get a chance to learn some calligraphy through practicing the character for tea (cha). The rest of the afternoon you are free to explore or rest up before our official welcome banquet followed by a visit to a Beijing tea house.

China Tea Tour 2009 – Base Tour – We continue our adventure with a full day of activities in Beijing.

Day 1 – We are up early today to take in the tranquility of the sprawling Temple of Heaven park and join in some tai chi, a popular morning exercise. After a tour of the ancient compound we visit a local family’s home for a tasty lesson in dumpling making. Next we learn a little about China’s spiritual legacy with a visit to White Cloud Taoist Temple. No tour of Beijing is complete without a chance to hunt for treasures in the old Liu Li Chang antique market street. After dinner we board the overnight train to Inner Mongolia, homeland of the Kahn’s and the vast Mongol Empire. Mongolians and Chinese have traded tea and horses for centuries and this area is also one of the end points of the famous Silk Road and Tea/Horse trading routes.

Day 2 – Wake up at out destination, the capital city of Hoh Hot, and disembark from our cozy cabins. First we stop at a hotel for some breakfast and to freshen up.  Then, we board our coach and head off to the grasslands. Mongolian culture is one of the most colorful and robust and expressive of the minority groups. Welcoming guests with spirits and song is a heartfelt tradition. Settle in and relax for a while in our traditional nomad tent and enjoy some nourishing milk tea. After dinner, take in the song and dance of a Mongolian culture show.

Day 3 – After a night under the big sky and twinkling stars we saddle up our favorite faithful steed and take a pleasure walk across the wide open prairie. We’ll attend the horse rodeo and after dinner, sit around the campfire to the serenade of Mongolian songs.

Day 4 – This morning we bid farewell to the peacefulness of grasslands and coach back to Hoh Hot to catch the plane to our next destination, Kunming, capital of Southwestern Yunnan province and land of “eternal spring.” Yunnan is home to over 35 of China’s colorful ethnic minority groups and has been a major center of tea production for 2000 years. We’ll visit a giant tea market and then enjoy a dinner of traditional local dishes including tea.

Day 5 – This morning we board our coach to see one of natural the marvels of the world, the Stone Forest; unique carst formations that spire up from the ground. On our return to the city we’ll stop to explore the Dragon Gate temple which overlooks the plains below. Our dinner tonight is at the Ethnic Culture theater where we’ll take in the beautiful performances and taste a local favorite dish “over the bridge noodles” soup.

Day 6 – We have seen the end point of the Chinese silk and tea/horse road. Now it is time to see the beginning. We catch the morning flight South to Pu Erh City the gateway to the tea whose namesake the city bears. We’ll participate in a lecture and taste some Pu Erh teas. With a visit to a tea garden and tea factory we learn first hand about production methods and have the chance to pick and make our own tea. Renowned for it’s unusual flavor and aid to digestion, Pu Erh tea is one of the oldest teas and one of the few that improves with age. Some well aged cakes can sell for several hundred dollars.

Day 7 – This area, known as Xi Shuang Ban Na is home to the Dai minority group and the delicate fingers of the young Dai girls have picked tea leaves for millenia. This morning we trek to see the “King of Tea Trees,” now over 1700 years old. Then, we board the plane back to Kunming for a meeting with the provincial tea company executives.

Day 8 – After a night to relax, we fly across the country to the eastern costal province of Fujian. Arriving in the port city of Xiamen, it is from the local dialect that European traders took the name “tay” or “tea.” There really is a tea theme park and we will have a visit there before driving North to De Hua, world famous for its milky white porcelain. Meander through the porcelain museum and then the market, to find teapots, cups and other ware.

Day 9 – Our next stop is the capital city of Fuzhou where we will meet with one of the largest tea companies in China and receive an introduction to and tasting of some Fujian teas. Following lunch we learn about tea quality and safety standards at the Tea Inspection Bureau.

Day 10 – Today we are off to one of the most sensual parts of the tour, a Jasmine Tea factory. Step into rooms filled with ethereal fragrance and then sample the freshly made tea. By day’s end we’ll be in Fuding, another major jasmine tea producing area and also one of the original sources for white teas such as Silver Needle and White Peony. Have the rare chance to tour the factory and learn the closely guarded production methods.

Day 11 – Arise this morning for a stroll through the lush greenery of the tea garden and then hop aboard our coach to Wu Yi Mts., legendary home of oolong teas. Traveling past some breathtaking mountain ranges we arrive in time for a special banquet of tea dishes.

Day 12 – After breakfast step aboard a bamboo raft and take a relaxing cruise down the 9 Bend Stream watching the fabled “Fairy Tale Peaks” pass by around us. Later we hike up to see the original Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) tea trees. Their priceless leaves are legendary for their healing powers and are reserved only for top level political officials. Tonight we relax in a tea house and enjoy the captivating presentation of the Tea Art / Dance Performers.

Day 13 – In the heart of oolong country, we’ll have an introduction to Wu Yi oolong teas as well as instruction on the Chinese Gongfu Tea Ceremony. This afternoon we enter the Wu Yi Nature Reserve which encompasses one of the oldest tea factories making the smoky Lapsang Souchong black tea. Tour the factory and learn about how this tea is made as well as tasting the different products of the factory.

Day 14 – Our last day in Wu Yi Mts. includes a morning visit to a tea house and then we hike up to Heavenly Peak, over looking the stream. Departing by plane, we arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai and have some time to wander the famous shopping street of Nan Jing road. An evening visit to the Mid Lake Pavilion Tea House is a must for any visit to Shanghai.

I’m going to China on a very specialized tour with World Tea Tours. For many years, Dan Robertson, an respected expert on Chinese tea and importer of many high quality teas, has been leading groups of tea lovers to countries where tea is grown and is also an important part of the culture.

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Thank you for your interest in the Emma Lea Stories.

Sincerely, Babette