Shiyan promotes development of tea industry

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-01-19

The development of "Wudang Taoist Tea" promotes the transformation and upgrade of the agriculture industry in Shiyan, Hubei province. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

Through the combination of Taoist culture and tea culture, Shiyan city in Hubei province continues to build the brand of "Wudang Taoist Tea" and promote the development of the tea industry.

Wudang Taoist Tea has become a driving force for the tea industry, and the city government has made the development of the tea industry a priority. To date, the area of tea gardens in Shiyan totals 700,000 mu (466,667 square meters).

"Wudang Taoist Tea" is awarded as "China's Best Cultural Tea" in June 2014. [Photo/wudangshan.gov.cn]

The government invests 2 million yuan ($323,000) every year in popularizing Taoist tea through media, advertisements and agricultural fairs. The tea has won several honors, such as the Low- Carbon Agriculture Prize of the Asia-Pacific Environmental Protection Association (APEPA) and the golden prize of the eighth China Agricultural Trade Fair.

By setting up the Hubei Wudang Taoist Tea Association and defining the technical regulations and product standards, Shiyan strengthens the R&D of Taoist tea and increases the benefits of the tea industry. The tea production in 2013 reached 13,100 tons with an output value of 2.3 billion yuan.

Wudang Taoist Tea was awarded as "China's Best Cultural Tea" in June 2014. With a brand value of 4.1 billion yuan, the tea ranked third on the list of agricultural products in China on Dec 12, 2014, according to a report by China Central Television (CCTV).

Contributed by Wang Liang and Jiang Yuanbo from Wudang Mountains Tourism Bureau