Step back in time to the golden age of Hankou—once celebrated as the “Oriental Chicago” and a bustling centre of the global tea trade. This four-hour immersive walking tour combines tea history, tasting, metro travel, art discovery, and heritage exploration, creating a vivid journey through the streets and stories that made Hankou thrive.
Begin with a traditional Hubei Qingzhuan Tea ceremony—once a prized brew of Russian Tsars. As you sip, enjoy panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the Yangtze River docks that served as the world’s busiest tea hub in the 19th century. A live tea ritual performance sets the perfect tone for the journey ahead.
Board Wuhan Metro Line 1, the first elevated metro line in China. Arrive at Xunlimen Station, the historic terminus of the Jinghan Railway, where millions of tea chests once began their long voyage to Europe. From here, enjoy a guided stroll along Jianghan Road, a lively street that once bustled with merchants and colonial traders.
Step inside the grand halls of the Yunlee Banking Corporation, built in 1946 and now a muse-style art gallery. Discover an antique tea-transport lift shaft and cast-iron vault doors that once guarded fortunes from the tea trade. Refresh with a complimentary cup of tea before continuing.
Explore the “Red Castle” of the Russian Tea King, Hankou’s first luxury apartments, built by Russian tea magnate J.K. Panoff.