What to Buy in Hangzhou (杭州)
The home of Longjing tea and world-famous silk — two gifts that have defined Chinese taste for centuries.
6 must-buy souvenirs
Longjing tea 龙井茶
China's most famous green tea, grown in the hills west of West Lake. Fresh spring-picked leaves are the best.
📍 Longjing tea village (Meijiawu)
Silk fabrics & scarves 杭州丝绸
Hangzhou has been China's silk capital for a thousand years — check the 100% silk label.
📍 China National Silk Museum shop
Zhang Xiaoquan scissors 张小泉剪刀
The legendary brand of scissors since 1663 — beautifully made and surprisingly sharp.
📍 Wangxingji / department stores
Paradise umbrellas 天堂伞
Lightweight Chinese umbrellas, a Hangzhou original — useful and traditional.
📍 City department stores
Hangbaiju chrysanthemum tea 杭白菊
Dried white chrysanthemum buds from Tongxiang — a calming herbal tea, great for sleep.
📍 Tea shops and supermarkets
West Lake lotus-root starch 西湖藕粉
Instant lotus-root powder from West Lake — a smooth dessert soup, packed in pretty boxes.
📍 Lakeside specialty shops
Shopping Tips
- ·Buy Longjing from the tea villages (Meijiawu) or state tea companies, not from street vendors selling 'Dragon Well' at lakeside.
- ·The China National Silk Museum shop has quality-checked silk goods.
- ·Hangzhou scissors (Zhang Xiaoquan) are a practical gift still used daily.