Tea garden injects vitality into village in Wudang

The Tiangui Tea Garden. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

Tea farmers pick tea leaves in the tea garden. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

In 2014, the Tiangui Tea Garden was established in Guaibi village, Wudang district, Guiyang, transforming the village's singular production model and increasing residents' incomes.

In 2023, the Wudang government awarded the tea garden the title of "Outstanding Enterprise". The garden cultivates tea over an area of 2,365 mu (156.67 hectares) and has supported tea cultivation by over 49 households, with a total of 267 households working in the core tea gardens.

"There aren't many people picking tea now, but in the following few days, when the temperature rises and the tea bushes grow, there will be many more people picking tea here," said Zhou Yongxiu, a local tea farmer.

In addition to tea picking, Zhou is also responsible for weeding and fertilizing the tea garden, earning an annual income of 20,000 - 30,000 yuan ($2,764-4,146).

A worker at the tea garden said that in the future, the tea garden plans to launch special tea tourism routes centered on tea-picking experiences and seasonal agricultural activities. It will also develop tea-themed cultural and creative products to expand income sources for the local community.

The tea garden's 2,000 mu of spring tea is now entering its peak picking season, which is expected to last until late June. The annual output is expected to reach 25,000 kilograms of dry tea leaves valued at 4 million yuan.