The Southwest Zhejiang Gaoshan Tea Market – located in Suichang county, administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – saw the value of transactions exceed 100 million yuan ($15.69 million) in the first seven days since spring tea trading began on March 5.

At present, the market is dominated by wuniuzao tea – a prized green tea from the province, which is one of the earliest to harvest – that has a high yield and subtle taste. One kilogram of wuniuzao can currently be sold for about 1,000 yuan, according to a trader at the market.

In addition to the traditional on-site transactions, livestreamers – who use their smartphones to sell tea through livestreaming platforms – have nowadays become a common sight at the tea market.

As of March 15, a total of 7,614 transactions had been made on site at the market in spring tea trading – with 202.4 tons of tea changing hands, generating a turnover of 148 million yuan. In addition, more than 25 tons of tea were traded online, generating over 20 million yuan of sales.

At present, there is a total of 8,553 hectares of tea under cultivation in Suichang county. In 2021, the county produced 15,846 tons of tea worth 1.53 billion yuan.

Nearly one third of Suichang's rural population is engaged in the tea industry.