In 2008, for the first time I traveled to Wuyi Mountain(武夷山), just for the sake of traveling. But thanks to this chance, I have an unending affinity with Wuyi Mountain and Wuyi Rock Tea.

While you are walking through the mountains, ahead of you, as far as you can see, are the flourishing tea gardens in massive and small scales located in high and low positions, composing picturesque scenes here and there.

Tea gardens in the mountain

Three characters of Da Hong Pao are carved in a stone. The original source of the name for Da Hong Pao tea carries a tale. It is said that a candidate for the imperial examination came to a villager and thanked him for saving his life by offering him tea when he was very ill. The villager guided him to the mountain where there were three trees flourishing on the rock and said to him, “It was not me but these trees that saved you.” The candidate took off his red robe and used it to cover the trees. As a result, these trees got the name, Da Hong Pao, which means “red robe”. Later on, all the tea trees in Wuyi Mountain began to be called: Da Hong Pao.

The saying goes that those living on a mountain live off the mountain, those living near the water live off the water. You cannot feel the atmosphere of tea culture unless you have been to Wuyi in person. While walking through the streets, you will find all the stores are selling items related to tea. Whichever store you walk in, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to buy their tea, the store owner will always give you their warmest greeting and sa, “Please take a sip of our tea because it will warm your heart”.

Brook flows through the Wuyi mountain.

Tourists take bamboo boats into the mountain.

It’s acknowledged that the unique features of a local environment always give special characteristics to its inhabitants. Wuyi Mountain is acclaimed as the most amazing and beautiful place in southeastern China, with ravines going through the mountains in an unbroken line, the Dawang Peak standing opposite to the Yunv Peak, and the clear crystal Jiuqu Brook flowing continuously day in and day out. The tea trees are commonly called “Wuyi Rock Tea” owing to the fact that they grow alongside the rocks in the mountains. It’s said that the superior teas grow in rotten rocks, the middling ones in gravel, while the inferior ones in soil. Wuyi Rock Tea is granted a unique aroma by the special soil texture, geographic location, abundant rainfall and the half-fermented craftsmanship. Among all these rock teas, there are fragrant green teas, black teas with a faint sweet taste, and especially the famed Da Hong Pao, which tops the list of Chinese oolong teas.

A brook flows through the mountains where teas grow.

Stream flows in the mountain.

Farmer carries tea leaves out of the mountain through narrow winding trail.

Statues show the process of tea making in the old days.

Statues show the process of tea making in the old days.