new: From October 19th, 2026
China White Tea Tour
Fuzhou - Jingdezhen - Quanzhou - Fuding - Taimu mtn. - Diantou - Zhenghe - Dehua - Xishuangbanna - Nannuo mtn. - Pasha - Menghai
Leaves that appear ancestral — small buds dried in the shade of wild tea trees — reveal themselves to be refined and deeply cultural; and white porcelains disclose warm translucence, the quiet presence of stone, and the gentle trace of the hands that shaped them.
We will travel along an arc of tones and shades that crosses China from east to west, returning us to white. It is a new itinerary that gathers many of our personal passions: a mature route built upon the experience of previous journeys between east and west, precise in its rhythm and guided by a shared objective.
We will depart from Fuzhou, at the crossroads of great maritime routes in the very centre of Fujian, and from there begin our exploration of flavours and refined techniques. We will visit Fuding and then Zhenghe, in their production centres and key villages, where white tea production has reached remarkable technical precision, dividing harvests not only by season but by day and even by the hour in which the precious leaves are picked.
We will visit Jingdezhen and Dehua two centres of porcelain and ceramics whose kilns were first lit during the Tang dynasty, where kaolin-rich clays are shaped, glazed, and fired at over 1300°C to achieve the luminous density that made them world references.
For the latter district, we will base ourselves in a city dear to us for its millennial multiculturalism and refined flavours: Quanzhou, offering an urban immersion into an intense and little-known side of Chinese culture, shaped by crossings of peoples and great voyages.
From the eastern coast we will fly to Yunnan, to the origin of the tea plant where dense ancestral forests still remain. There, we will apply skill and technique in producing our own white tea: harvesting the autumn leaves, allowing them to wither, caring for them, and later engaging in a blind tasting alongside other teas to understand how terroir has expressed itself through our hands.
We will taste numerous cultivars from these areas, expanding our memory of fragrances and flavours and deepening the experiences that shape our inner landscape.
This journey grows from conversations with travellers who have shared previous routes with us. Some places are already reserved; if you recognise yourself in this path, we invite you to contact us directly.
October 19th - November 3rd, 2026
Our travel is designed by us, and it is independent from any travel agency: we bring you with us on Eastern Leaves routes, guided by a farmer and tea scholar, through places, tastes and people that are most meaningful for us.
From our travelers
I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places
"I am drinking a rock tea from Wuyishan at home, a month after our trip. Brewed in a beautiful Yixing pot that I bought in actual Yixing, and tea from the mountain that I hiked on. I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places... I am reminiscing about this holiday a lot. It was just perfect. People were incredibly nice. We had wonderful encounters with lots of lovely different tea people and the people in our group where the best. Tea people are so nice. We saw incredible things, drank the best teas and had so much fun together. Everything that was abstract for me beforehand, became concrete while traveling. It's hard to capture my feelings in words, but but I am back home for a month now and there was not a single day that I didn't think about the trip. I wasn't homesick while traveling, but I am tripsick now.
And all of this took place under the caring and enthusiastic guidance of Vivian and Lorenzo, truly two of the most kind, warm-hearted and knowledgeable people that I know."
W.E., from The Netherlands
We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty
"I want to consider a different approach. I don't want to make a review of what went well and what didn't go well. I don't want to dwell on individual stages and describe a fantastic world. I reject any image of travel, tea, an extraordinary country and all that. I want to forget any kind of knowledge I have. Tea lovers already know all about these things. I want to tell them that they don't need "yesterday" because it is the necessary condition to savor any moment with its different temperatures, colors and fragrances. Isn't this what happens when you drink forgotten tea? Isn't it like drinking a new tea, after all? When we abandoned the concept of tea bags, what did we do? We entered an ancient forest for the first time. We put our hands in the clay. We tasted food with a sparkling and surprising flavour. We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty. And this is where the world of Eastern Leaves becomes real"
D.N., from Italy
These experiences last only a few weeks, but the memories will stay with me for a lifetime
I've joined two tours with Eastern Leaves, and both exceeded my expectations. Though I’m not usually a fan of group travel, being with fellow tea lovers made it special.
The Eastern Leaves team stands out for their thoughtfulness, sincerity, and commitment to sharing knowledge. They were supportive before the trip and attentive throughout, providing quality accommodations and meals while regularly asking for feedback.
The itineraries strike a great balance between active days and restful ones with tastings and workshops, and they remain flexible to adapt to changes.
I visited renowned places like Wuyishan, Yixing, and Yunnan’s wild tealands, and even returning to places like Nannuo and Menghai brought new perspectives. These short journeys have left me with lasting memories.
E.T., from The Netherlands
None of what I have experienced, would have been accessible and possible as independent traveller
Thank you so much for such two unforgettable weeks around Yunnan.
As an event organizer I don’t trust other people easily, but your tour was seamless and you gave us so much more than you promised. You’re both very alert to the necessities of the group, flexible and caring that you made us feel special from day one. You also have a keen eye for detail, which always makes a big difference.
Every day we could discover a new shade of the fascinating tea world of Yunnan and it really was a deep dive into the subject at 360 degrees. Most of all, 98% of what we experienced, tasted, brewed, learnt and enjoyed wouldn’t have been accessible and possible as independent traveller. You really are a passport for the world of Chinese tea and I can’t wait to discover another tea area of your country with you.
L.A., from Venice
Our travel package includes accommodation in selected, cosy hotels, all the internal transportation, and meals. It doesn't include the flight from/to your country of origin, visas (but we support your application), and insurance.
Once you decide to travel with us, we assist you in everything we can, following our experience with travellers from all over the world.
We apply special rates for our Eastern Academy alumni: contact us to choose a date and customise together your travel at the origin of tea!
Contact us
Further travel options
China tour, May 2026
May 11th - May 26th, 2026
We curated a journey through the places, people, and teas we love most, offering a deep dive into our shared passion.
Starting in Shanghai, we travel to Yixing to meet master ceramicists Yuan Weixin and Lian Meiping. We then head to Wuyishan during the harvest season, exploring the diverse micro-environments that make its rock teas so exceptional, and continue to Tongmuguan to witness the origins of red tea amid its stunning landscapes. Along the way, we discover the famed Jianzhan pottery of Jianyang.
The second half of the tour brings us to our home in Yunnan: from studying gongfucha in Kunming to visiting key pu’er regions like Laobanzhang, Hekai, Nannuo, and Yiwu, walking mountain paths and sharing moments with farmers and tea professionals.
This journey embodies the spirit of Eastern Leaves—tea, culture, landscapes, and the people who bring them to life.
Summer tea study tour
August 9–22, 2026
This study journey explores tea at its origin, combining field visits, tastings, and technical study in the mountains of Xishuangbanna.
Travelling through the tea landscapes of southern Yunnan, we walk the forests of Nannuo and Bulang, observe ancient tea trees and local cultivation practices, and taste pu’er teas close to their source. Alongside mountain visits, the programme includes Gongfucha practice, comparative tastings, and sessions dedicated to factory production, shou pu’er fermentation, and the evolving pu’er market.
The journey concludes in Kunming, where producers, collectors, and companies meet in one of China’s most important tea trading centres.
This study tour reflects the spirit of Eastern Leaves: learning through landscapes, craft traditions, and direct encounters with tea and the people who shape it.
Custom Tea Journeys
All-year long
In addition to our scheduled tours, we organise custom tea journeys throughout the year. We live in Yunnan and our work extends across many of China’s tea landscapes, from the pu’er mountains of the southwest to the historic tea regions of Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Anhui.
These journeys can take many forms: exploratory travels through tea mountains, focused study programmes, private tastings, or specialised courses. Each experience is designed with the same spirit of observation, tasting, and immersion that guides our work.
The duration is flexible and shaped around your interests and schedule. You may draw inspiration from our existing tours or follow a specific curiosity about tea regions, production methods, or tea cultures.
If you are considering a private journey, feel free to reach out. We will be happy to learn more about your interests and explore the possibilities together.
Travel's FAQ
We carefully choose all our accommodations to make sure you have a comfortable and pleasant stay.
In Xishuangbanna, you'll stay in a private villa next to our tea studio, so you can fully immerse yourself in the tea experience.
In other cities, we use trusted hotels we've worked with for years. We choose them for their great service and reliability, and some have even become like a second home to us.
You can see the full list of all our partner hotels in the document below.
To join our tours it is requires a tourist visa: most of the countries can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival.
If you country is not in this list, you need to obtain a regular 30-days visa: the procedure is pretty straightforward, and it is more and more simplified.
We offer all possible assistance based on the experiences of the travellers we have welcomed over the years from all over the world.
For the most recent news on China visa policy, we recommend visiting the website of the China Visa Application Center.
Sure! Food is an important part of our experience (and of our lives), so we plan it carefully.
Chinese cuisine is extremely diverse: it includes countless varieties of tofu and a variety of vegetable cooking techniques; we will encounter tuberoses and radishes, wild herbs and flowers: a plant-based diet, in addition to a onnivore diet, is entirely possible.
We also have experience with various dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, lactose intolerant, and religious restrictions; when you contact us, please let us know your needs and preferences, and we will gladly plan your meal accordingly.
As you are probably aware, we are huge fans of photography, particularly when done slowly and with passion: if you, too, enjoy cameras and pictures, it would be wonderful to share our enthusiasm along the way.
Photos and videos are permitted as long as they do not disrupt the flow of travel for our farmers and experts, ensuring a pleasant experience for all of our guests.
If you want a tour specifically designed for documentary purposes, complete with filming mics and equipment, please contact us in advance to plan a customised trip.
When you decide to book we advise to keep in touch with us, we will assist you as much as possible with flights from your country of origin, visas, and any preparation you may need.
Visas for China have recently become easier to obtain for the majority of nationalities; for the most up-to-date visa rules, we recommend checking the official Chinese website and your local Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
Yes, if you wish, we can provide you with a digital or printed certificate for your travel experience into tea.
For travellers, China is one of the safest countries in the world, with extremely low crime rates, including pickpocketing.
Our commitment along the route is to keep you as safe as possible, both physically and mentally.
For our longer tours, we usually offer the option to join only a portion of the tour, for at least 12 days, based on availability.
If this is your wish, please contact us so that we can plan your trip together.
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