A visit to the Longjing Tea Plantation makes for a nice side trip from Hangzhou's main attractions. About 30 minutes by bicycle from downtown, situated just southwest of West Lake, the village of Longjing presents visitors with secluded paths running through a terraced landscape with tea growing on all sides. You can see the harvesting and processing of the tea and sample different grades and varieties, spending anywhere from RMB 500 to RMB 10,000 for a kilo of tea. Expect enthusiastic hospitality from local tea sellers-it's not unheard of to spend an hour or so being plied with tea and talk, even if most of the "conversation" consists of gestures, smiles and a mix of broken English and Mandarin. Just remember that you really should buy something after such an experience-if longjing cha doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, it makes a great gift.