THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a day off Shanghai exploring Dongshan Island’s tea terraces, hiking the Twenty-Four Bend to Murray Peak, and wandering Luxiang’s 800-year-old water lanes. This private tour mixes hands-on tea picking with panoramic lake views and local culture.
Spend a day off Shanghai exploring Dongshan Island’s tea terraces, hiking the Twenty-Four Bend to Murray Peak, and wandering Luxiang’s 800-year-old water lanes. This private tour mixes hands-on tea picking with panoramic lake views and local culture.
A minivan slips out of Shanghai before dawn and the city’s glass façades give way to open water and low green hills. By midmorning you arrive on Dongshan Island at the edge of Taihu Lake: tea terraces stitch the slopes, village lanes curl toward streams, and Murray Peak rises—roughly 300 meters—overlooking the lake.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours · Dongshan (Suzhou), Jiangsu
A minivan slips out of Shanghai before dawn and the city’s glass façades give way to open water and low green hills. By midmorning you arrive on Dongshan Island at the edge of Taihu Lake: tea terraces stitch the slopes, village lanes curl toward streams, and Murray Peak rises—roughly 300 meters—overlooking the lake.
Dongshan has been a tea-producing pocket of Jiangsu for centuries; the island’s Biluochun-style teas and fruit farms reflect local microclimates fed by Taihu’s shallow waters. Geologically the shore is low and lake-formed, the soil rich from alluvial deposits that favor tea and orchard cultivation. Luxiang village, with more than 800 years of history, preserves narrow stone alleys and small covered bridges that speak to the region’s water-town culture.
The tour pairs a hands-on tea-picking session with a 24-Bend hike across tea fields and orchards to Murray Peak, finishing with a cultural walk through Luxiang. Expect farm tracks, short steep switchbacks, and paved lanes in the village; total outing time is about eight hours door-to-door from Shanghai.
Practical guidance: start early to beat heat, wear grippy shoes for muddy terraces, bring 1–2 liters of water and sun protection, and carry a small amount of cash for village snacks or crafts. The tea-picking is seasonal and best in spring for bud harvest; the hike is family-friendly but involves uneven ground and some elevation gain. For a focused day of landscape, local food, and hands-on farming, this private tour balances easy cultural access with a genuine slice of Taihu Lake life.
moderate.
8 hours.
Suitable for travelers in regular fitness who can handle short steep sections and uneven terrain
The total excursion is about 8 hours from Shanghai with roughly 2–3 hours of walking over farm tracks and the Twenty-Four Bend ascent to Murray Peak (elevation gain ~300 m).
Yes—tea picking is low-impact and guided on flat terraces; the hike has steeper sections but can be paced to fit mixed-ability groups.
Lunch is included as part of the tour and typically features local dishes; bring snacks if you have specific dietary needs.
Driving time is typically 1.5–2.5 hours each way depending on traffic; the tour provides transport from prearranged pickup points in Shanghai.
Dongshan’s tea culture and Luxiang’s waterways reflect centuries of lake-side agriculture and trade; the village preserves architecture and canals over 800 years old.
Visitors should stay on marked paths to protect terrace soils and orchards; local farmers rely on low-impact tourism, so avoid littering and support village businesses.
MoreFunAsia Shanghai Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A minivan slips out of Shanghai before dawn and the city’s glass façades give way to open water and low green hills. By midmorning you arrive on Dongshan Island at the edge of Taihu Lake: tea terraces stitch the slopes, village lanes curl toward streams, and Murray Peak rises—roughly 300 meters—overlooking the lake.
A minivan slips out of Shanghai before dawn and the city’s glass façades give way to open water and low green hills. By midmorning you arrive on Dongshan Island at the edge of Taihu Lake: tea terraces stitch the slopes, village lanes curl toward streams, and Murray Peak rises—roughly 300 meters—overlooking the lake.
Dongshan has been a tea-producing pocket of Jiangsu for centuries; the island’s Biluochun-style teas and fruit farms reflect local microclimates fed by Taihu’s shallow waters. Geologically the shore is low and lake-formed, the soil rich from alluvial deposits that favor tea and orchard cultivation. Luxiang village, with more than 800 years of history, preserves narrow stone alleys and small covered bridges that speak to the region’s water-town culture.
The tour pairs a hands-on tea-picking session with a 24-Bend hike across tea fields and orchards to Murray Peak, finishing with a cultural walk through Luxiang. Expect farm tracks, short steep switchbacks, and paved lanes in the village; total outing time is about eight hours door-to-door from Shanghai.
Practical guidance: start early to beat heat, wear grippy shoes for muddy terraces, bring 1–2 liters of water and sun protection, and carry a small amount of cash for village snacks or crafts. The tea-picking is seasonal and best in spring for bud harvest; the hike is family-friendly but involves uneven ground and some elevation gain. For a focused day of landscape, local food, and hands-on farming, this private tour balances easy cultural access with a genuine slice of Taihu Lake life.