Lushui River at Lishan

Lishan Lushui

Lishan Lushui in Qimen is located 39 kilometers west of Qimen County, backed by Lishan Mountain. The Penglong River and Guxi River, both originating from Lishan, flow from north to south and converge here before exiting, hence the name. The Lushui River runs through the town, dividing it into eastern and western sections. Established during the Song Dynasty, it is not only the birthplace of the world-renowned Qimen Black Tea (Qi Hong), but also a distribution hub for timber from the western part of Qimen County.

Surrounded by high mountains and dense forests with a humid climate, this area is an ideal habitat for the Chinese tree viper. In 1876, Yu Ganchen, a former official from Qian County who returned after being dismissed from his post in Fujian, started making Qimen Black Tea in Likou, imitating the Fujian black tea production method. Due to the high-quality soil in Likou, the moist air, persistent fog, and abundant mountain flowers, the tea leaves absorbed a natural aroma reminiscent of apples and orchids, which foreigners later called the "Qimen Fragrance." Since then, Qimen Black Tea has gained worldwide fame, and the tea industry in Likou began to flourish. With the development of tea production, commerce in Likou thrived, gradually forming a mountain village town primarily focused on tea trade. It is located about 15 kilometers from the Kushanjiang Nature Reserve.