Meijiawu to Longjing via Shili Langdang Hike

Start at the Meijiawu bus stop 梅家坞站 on Meiling Road. The bus stop is served by routes 103 (from Huanglong Cave metro), 121, and 1314 (the romantic bus route). Across the road, a traditional stone archway with the inscription '十里琅珰' (Shili Langdang — 'Ten Miles of Tinkling Bangles') marks the trail entrance. Meijiawu is a compact tea village with a handful of tea houses and farmhouse restaurants along the main road — a good place to pick up water and snacks before setting out. The archway is immediately recognisable and a popular photo spot.

Photo suggestion: The Shili Langdang stone archway at the Meijiawu trailhead.

From the archway, the trail follows a continuous stone-step path climbing through tea terraces toward the ridge. This is the most sustained physical effort of the walk — approximately 1,700 to 2,000 stone steps over about 1.5 km, gaining roughly 150 metres in elevation. The gradient is steady but not punishing; the path is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and the stone steps are uniform and well-maintained. Calorie-burn markers are set into the steps at intervals ('台阶第600级，已消耗94cal'), a playful touch that provides motivation. Tea terraces rise on both sides of the path, with the Meijiawu valley opening up behind you as you climb — the view improves with every 100 steps. After about 20 minutes, the path reaches Wenbi Peak 文碧峰, a modest summit with a flat stone observation area offering a broad view over Meijiawu village and the surrounding tea hills.

Caution: The step count (1,700-2,000) sounds intimidating but the gradient is gentle — the path gains elevation gradually. Take a short break at the calorie markers for water and photos. The path is fully exposed to the sun for most of this segment — wear a hat and sunscreen on clear days.

Photo suggestion: The stone-step ascent through tea terraces, with Meijiawu village visible behind and below.

From Wenbi Peak, the gradient eases as the trail follows the ridge crest. The path surface remains paved stone, now alternating between open ridge sections with sweeping views and short bamboo-shaded corridors. After approximately 10 minutes, the trail reaches Sanfena 三分岔 ('Three Forks') at approximately 340 metres elevation — the highest point of the walk and the primary viewpoint. Sanfena is a three-way stone-paved junction marked by a signpost: left toward Longjing Village (your direction), right toward Wuyun Mountain and Yunqi Bamboo Path, and back toward Meijiawu. The clearing at the junction offers an unobstructed 360° panorama: the layered tea-terrace hills of the Longjing area in every direction, West Lake visible in the distance on clear days, and the Qiantang River basin to the south. This is the signature photo location of the entire walk. The tea bushes at Sanfena are from Meijiawu's oldest tea plantings, some dating to the Republican era (pre-1949).

Photo suggestion: Sanfena junction — the panoramic viewpoint with tea terraces stretching in all directions and West Lake visible on the horizon.

From Sanfena, take the left fork toward Longjing Village. The path climbs a short distance to Shifeng Peak 狮峰 before beginning the descent — a brief final uphill before the sustained downhill. Shifeng is one of the most famous tea-growing micro-regions in China; the Dragon Well tea produced here commands premium prices. The descent from Shifeng follows a stone-step path that winds through layered tea terraces, with the rooftops of Longjing Village growing larger as you lose elevation. This is the most picturesque section of the walk — the path is narrow enough to feel immersive, passing between tea bushes at shoulder height, with the village in the frame below. After approximately 25 minutes, the trail reaches the lower Shili Langdang archway at the head of Longjing Village 龙井村. From the archway, walk straight into the village, which has tea houses, restaurants, and the bus stop for routes 27 and 87 back to the city centre.

Caution: The descent steps are the same stone surface as the ascent and can be slippery when dry with loose tea-leaf debris. Watch your footing on the steeper sections, particularly if the steps are dusty. The village entrance is a popular area for tea touts — a polite 'no thank you / 不用,谢谢' is sufficient if you are not interested.

Photo suggestion: Tea-terrace descent from Shifeng toward Longjing Village — the classic tea-field composition with the village nestled in the valley.

If you have time and energy, this extension adds a stream-valley walk from Longjing Village through the Nine Creeks (九溪十八涧) to the Jiuxi bus stop. From the Longjing Village archway, follow the paved road east out of the village. After approximately 300 metres, the road narrows into a gravel-and-stone path that follows a stream valley downhill. The path crosses the stream repeatedly on flat stone slabs — 18 crossings in total, though the exact number depends on the water level. The valley is shaded by tall broadleaf trees, with bamboo groves on the slopes and tea fields on the upper terraces. The gradient is gentle throughout — a relaxed downhill walk. After approximately 1 hour, the path reaches Jiuxi Yanshu 九溪烟树 ('Nine Creeks in Mist'), a small scenic park with a pond and waterfall, popular for photography. A further 500 metres of paved road brings you to the Jiuxi bus stop 九溪站, served by routes 4, 39, and 308 toward the city centre. An electric sightseeing shuttle also runs along this final section (one-way ~5 RMB) if your legs are tired.

Caution: The stream crossing stones can be slippery, particularly after rain. Take care on the wet stone surfaces — the water is shallow but a slip could result in a wet foot or a twisted ankle. After heavy rain, some crossings may have water flowing over the stones. The path between Longjing and Jiuxi has no shops or toilets — ensure you have enough water before leaving Longjing.

Photo suggestion: One of the 18 stream crossings on the Nine Creeks path — a classic Hangzhou landscape of stone slabs, dappled light, and running water.