Leafing through a tasteful tradition

You Yuqiong, an inheritor of Wuyi rock tea craftsmanship, processes leaves in bamboo trays in Wuyishan, Fujian. [Photo/Xinhua]

Beyond the leaf, Fujian provincial authorities have promoted the deep integration of tea culture and tourism, creating a business model characterized by "tea-infused banquets, tea-themed accommodations, tea trails for traveling, tea gardens for sightseeing, tea gifts for shopping, and tea performances for entertainment".

Its thriving tea industry is attributed to the time-honored culture, suitable climate for tea growing, rich resources and technological support.

Last year, the province's tea plantation area reached 252,000 hectares, with a raw tea output of 560,000 metric tons and a total industrial value exceeding 160 billion yuan ($22.28 billion). Meanwhile, Mount Wuyi welcomed 33.02 million tourists, generating tourism revenue of 35.2 billion yuan.