Yantai, home to China's northernmost tea-growing region, is expanding the boundaries of the tea industry with a new three-year plan and homegrown innovations.

The coastal city sits at 37 degrees north latitude. Its tea gardens span 16,000 mu (1,067 hectares), producing 560 metric tons of tea annually.

In late 2025, the local government issued a development plan for 2026–28 to address challenges such as high wintering costs and limited brand recognition. The plan aims to boost output value from 320 million yuan ($47.2 million) to over 500 million yuan by 2028.

Behind Yantai's success are dedicated pioneers. Zhang Zhigang, a former farmer, defied skeptics by spending over a decade developing "Beicha No 1" — a cold-resistant tea variety that can withstand northern winters without costly protective measures.

Starting with 162 trial varieties, he finally selected one exceptional plant through crossbreeding. The variety received national certification in 2019 and is now cultivated over an area of nearly 5,000 mu.

"I never thought about giving up," Zhang said. "I had full confidence in the variety I bred."

Zhang Zhigang (right) studies tea seedling cultivation and breeding techniques with a researcher from Qingdao Agricultural University. [Photo/Qilu Evening News]

In the Kunyu Mountains, Liu Shihai transformed barren land into an organic tea garden. He lived there for 11 years, using no chemicals and letting nature take its course. His premium spring tea is now sold at a price of 13,600 yuan per kilogram. 

Yantai tea is also exploring innovative models. Yu Chaoliang, a tea scientist who returned to his hometown, has developed products ranging from traditional teas to tea-based snacks, shampoos and facial masks. 

With a history of over 700 years, Yantai's tea story continues to unfold — one leaf, one boundary, one breakthrough at a time.