CHINA ADVENTURE CLUB JOURNEYS
Songyang: Tea, Traditions, and Innovation
Explore China Adventure Club journeysJourney at a glance
- Day 1 Arrival in Songyang
- Day 2 Songyang and Surrounding Villages
- Day 3 Songyang and Surrounding Villages
- Day 4 Depart Songyang
About this Journey
In Zhejiang’s misty and mountainous southwest, Songyang county has, in many ways, remained unchanged for centuries. Here, artisans cast traditional iron knives in street-side stores, and communities participate in ancient fengshui practices.
Local chefs steam hand-cut noodles and farmers grow local green tea that is now thought of as some of the best in China. However, beyond the county’s traditional lifestyle lies a surprising modern art scene.
Tea fields have become home to modern teahouses where young entrepreneurs reinvigorate the culture of their ancestors and dusty sugar factories have been transformed into modern architectural masterpieces.
Tour Highlights
- Slurping noodles in Songyang Old Town
- Learning about local innovation in the Damu Mountain teahouse
- Hiking to Yangjiatang Village and watching the sun set over the valley
YOUR JOURNEY
Route Map
Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Songyang
Upon arrival at Lishui Train Station (3hrs train ride from Shanghai), your local guide will meet you in the arrival hall with your private vehicle on standby to take you to your Songyang hotel (~1hr drive). Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day 2 Songyang and Surrounding Villages
Start the day from Songyang Old Town, a living museum where blacksmiths, herbalists, and weavers keep ancient traditions alive, then savor steaming handmade noodles at a beloved local shop • Bike through Damu Mountain’s lush tea terraces , watching skilled farmers harvesting China’s finest leaves, and unwind in a serene teahouse, a hub for Songyang cultural cultivation and innovation.
Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 3 Songyang and Surrounding Villages
Stop at Shimen Bridge, an ancient bridge turned scenic overlook, where a wooden pavilion frames views of the Songyi River and the Wuyang Dam • Visit a brown sugar factory, where gleaming steel and glass revive a fading craft as farmers demonstrate heritage production techniques, once a lifeline for local families • Explore Wang Village, hometown of Ming Dynasty scholar Wangjing, editor of history’s greatest encyclopedia, now immortalized in a minimalist memorial where past and present converge • Discover Yangjiatang Village, a fengshui masterpiece nestled between five peaks and a winding wealth-bringing stream. Meet locals steeped in tradition, then wander among 20 preserved Qing Dynasty wooden houses. As sunset gilds the yellow walls, you’ll see why this is called the “Gold Potala.”
Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 4 Depart Songyang
Discover one of Songyang’s most enchanting villages, home to the breathtaking Xianfeng Bookstore where floor-to-ceiling shelves of beautifully curated books invite hours of peaceful browsing • Later, your local guide and driver will accompany you on the 1.5-hour journey to Lishui Station, assisting with check-in for your high-speed train back to Shanghai.
Meals included: breakfast
Photos
Hotels Stray Birds Hotel Local Boutique Stray Birds Hotel transforms two rammed-earth village houses into a luxury retreat, designed by line+ studio.
Photos
Photos The Brown Sugar Factory Chengjiapu Village Local life in Songyang Share this journey
Details
What’s Included
- Services of an English-speaking local English-speaking guide
- Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
- All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
- Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
- All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
- Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
What’s Excluded
- International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
- Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
- Travel and medical insurance
- Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
- Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL
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