Shanghai, The Pearl of the Orient, is the optional pre-tour extension for this special program. And the first stop on our adventure is the fresh water pearl factory and showroom. After a delicious lunch we'll visit the offices of a tea export company for an informative meeting the tea trade. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a history of over 5000 years and we'll get a glimpse into the fascinating practices with a visit to a TCM hospital. After our welcome dinner we'll attend the spectacular performance by the world famous Shanghai Acrobats. The next morning we'll take in the sights of the city with a walk along the iconic Bund, Shanghai's Main Street. Then enjoy the skyline ship board as we take a cruise on the Huangpu River. In the afternoon we'll go back in time with a tour of Old Shanghai and the Yu Garden a former villa of a Qing Dynasty official. Cap it off with some time to relax at the famous Mid-Lake Pavilion Tea House and then a dinner of tasty dim sum. The next morning we'll tour the historic French Concession, the former enclave of the French Traders. Next we'll wander the expansive tea market tasting teas from all over China. Our lunch to day is a special all-vegetarian banquet  and then we'll tour the lively Jade Buddha Temple and taste some of the healing herbal infusions at their tea house.

Our training begins with our flight to Fujian Province's energetic Southern city of Xiamen - one of the original export points for tea shipments to Europe.   Upon arrival we'll transfer to the tea research center for and informative program on the traditional and contemporary issues of tea cultivation. Next we'll meet with representatives of a local tea company and then board the ferry to Gulangyu also known as Piano Island for our dinner. Before returning to the mainland we'll relax in one of the local tea houses for a taste of some wonderful tea and local life-style. The Ten Fu Tea University is our target today. A tea theme park and training institution, we'll first tour the impressive museum and working tea factory then head for the class room for a lecture on oolong tea with an introduction to the major categories and including a tasting session of benchmark Fujian oolong teas. We will dine on campus and stay the night in the dormitory hotel. In the morning we head to the tea gardens of AnXi county and our home for the next three days. Upon arrival we'll take a walk through the Tie Guan Yin tea garden and enjoy a welcome lunch reception with the factory manager and staff. Next we'll get acquainted and tour the factory followed by a lecture on Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) and a tea tasting session focusing on tea grades.  For the next two days we will start our mornings in the tea garden, learning plucking technique and styles, followed by factory training, focusing on understanding the various processing steps.  After lunch we spend time in the class room and in the field learning topics such as tea bush varietals and propagation, pruning schedules and garden maintenance. The afternoons will be spent in the tasting room examining light and then heavy oxidizing styles of Tie Guan Yin. Our next day we switch gears and fly to Wuyi Shan to learn about the renowned and historic teas from this picturesque area. Upon arrival we'll transfer to the site of the legendary Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) tea bushes and hear the folklore fable of it's discovery. Before dinner we'll get an introduction to Wuyi Oolongs at a lecture held at Wuyi Shan University. Like our time in AnXi, for the next two days we'll start our days in the verdant tea gardens followed by time in the factory learning tea production techniques. More study on the local bush varietals and chemical analysis gives way to focused tea tasting sessions on early and then late season teas.  Then it's time to show what you have learned with the final exam.

Wuyi Shan is also one of China's most beautiful natural scenic spots and our fun continues on the optional post-tour extension. The day begins with a relaxing raft ride down the winding 9 Bend Stream. with a break for lunch we'll stretch our legs and follow the trail to the scenic Heavenly Peak which overlooks the stream below. In the afternoon we'll drive into town and go tea shop hopping. And, after dinner we'll enjoy the ambiance at a local tea house. The next day we'll have the special experience of entering the Tong Mu Nature Reserve to visit the Lapsang Souchong tea factory to see the interesting way this famous black tea is made and learn its history. This afternoon we'll have time to run wild in the tea market and acquire some more tasty teas. Our final day includes a visit to a classical art studio and a tour of the Rui Yan Buddhist temple including a fabulous vegetarian lunch. This afternoon we'll enjoy some more beautiful sightseeing and then a farewell banquet when we'll reminisce over favorite memories and special moments that will stay with us forever.