Amanfayun, a Tang Dynasty Tea Village Near Hangzhou's West Lake

Amanfayun occupies a restored village dating to the Tang Dynasty, its dwellings originally home to the villagers who tended the surrounding tea fields near Hangzhou. Stone pathways lead through shaded courtyards to some 47 restored abodes, a handful of them more than a century old, preserving a way of life rather than replacing it.

Just six kilometres from the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of West Lake, the resort is enveloped by tea fields, natural woodland, and a pilgrimage circuit of seven ancient Buddhist temples. Its dining spans a Western restaurant, a village eatery serving Hangzhou specialities, and a tea house, while the spa is set among bamboo groves.

Hangzhou has inspired Chinese poets and artists for centuries, and Amanfayun immerses guests in its contemplative, tea-growing heritage. It offers a rare chance to stay within a living historical village rather than merely visit one.

Staying at Amanfayun? Book your stay with me for preferred-partner perks.