Just south of Hangzhou's West Lake, Longjing is home to China's most celebrated green tea.
China's best green tea —
Just south of Hangzhou's West Lake, Longjing is home to China's most celebrated green tea.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
Amid temples, pagodas and gardens that line the shores of nearby West Lake, you'll find many small tea houses serving longjing tea.
Longjing, China —
Amid temples, pagodas and gardens that line the shores of nearby West Lake, you'll find many small tea houses serving longjing tea.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
Longjing's tea villages and plantations, many open to the public, are connected by a cycle pathway and bus route.
Tea tours galore —
Longjing's tea villages and plantations, many open to the public, are connected by a cycle pathway and bus route.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
Oolong tea, a fragrant partially oxidized tea midway between green teas such as longjing and black teas such as pu'er, originates in southern China's Fujian Province.
Oolong tea —
Oolong tea, a fragrant partially oxidized tea midway between green teas such as longjing and black teas such as pu'er, originates in southern China's Fujian Province.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
The most famous and expensive oolong teas come from Wuyi Mountain in southern China's Fujian Province.
Wuyi Mountain —
The most famous and expensive oolong teas come from Wuyi Mountain in southern China's Fujian Province.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
Pu'er is a fermented and aged black tea with a complex, earthy taste.
Pinnacle of all Chinese teas —
Pu'er is a fermented and aged black tea with a complex, earthy taste.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
Pu'er is usually pressed into cakes and allowed to age so that its complexity and flavor improves over time, much like a good wine.
Pu'er tea cakes —
Pu'er is usually pressed into cakes and allowed to age so that its complexity and flavor improves over time, much like a good wine.
Fiona Reilly/CNN
The area of southern Yunnan where pu'er tea is produced lies adjacent to Myanmar, Laos and the Mekong River.
Southern Yunnan —
The area of southern Yunnan where pu'er tea is produced lies adjacent to Myanmar, Laos and the Mekong River.
Fiona Reilly/CNN