This three-day Hangzhou journey was a masterful blend of hands-on tradition and eye-opening modernity, each stop weaving into a richer understanding of the city. Southern Song Imperial Street set the tone, where we wandered beyond the main thoroughfare to find artisans still practicing age-old crafts, their work echoing the exhibits we’d later see at the specialized museums. The China Scissors, Knives, and Swords Museum, Hangzhou Fan Museum, and Hangzhou Umbrella Museum weren’t just displays—we got up close to forging techniques, fan-folding art, and umbrella-framing craftsmanship, with insights that made the relics feel alive rather than static.

The Hangzhou Museum provided the perfect backdrop, putting these crafts in historical context with its collection of Song Dynasty artifacts, while Leifeng Pagoda offered panoramic views that linked the city’s past (its legendary origins told through vivid murals) to its present skyline. Xixi Wetland was a serene counterpoint, a natural oasis where we glided through reed-fringed waterways, learning how its ecosystem has sustained local life for centuries.

Dragon Well Tea Plantation deepened the traditional thread—we walked among the tea bushes, learning to distinguish premium leaves, then participated in a Song Dynasty tea ceremony experience that turned a simple sip into a meditative ritual. The ancient Guqin gathering added another layer of elegance, the soft strings resonating with the tea’s aroma and the wetland’s quiet. And Andy showed us Alibaba’s headquarters as a brilliant finale, where we saw how modern innovation leans into Hangzhou’s legacy of precision (from tea cultivation to craftsmanship), its campus design even incorporating traditional courtyard elements. Every moment felt intentional, turning three days into a journey through Hangzhou’s soul—where the old nurtures the new, and craft remains at the core.

Reviewed to: 3-Day China Study Tour from Shanghai to Hangzhou: Discover Ancient Culture and Natural Beauty