Site of the Imperial Tea Garden

Site of the Imperial Tea Garden

The Site of the Imperial Tea Garden is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Site of the Imperial Tea Garden is located south of the Fourth Bend Creek, bordering the Fifth Bend, nestled against the mountain and by the water, with flat green tea terraces. It now serves as the cultivar and clonal tea specimen garden of the Wuyi Mountain Tea Research Institute, marked by a stone stele. In ancient times, this was the site of the Yuan Dynasty imperial tea garden. Outside the garden stand two maple trees, their leaves turning crimson in autumn and winter—known locally as the “Heaven-Illuminating Candles.” The Imperial Tea Garden was built in the sixth year of the Yuandade era (1302), featuring a grand layout with the Renfeng Gate at the front, and the Bafa Hall (also known as the First Spring Hall), Qingshen Hall, Sijing Pavilion, Yanjia Pavilion, Yiji Pavilion, Fuguang Pavilion, and Biyun Bridge at the rear. All gates, halls, pavilions were named with references to tea culture or praise for tea.

To the left and right of the garden, tea fields were constructed, and the water used for tea-making was drawn from mountain springs, channeled into wells and covered with dragon pavilions. On the day of Jingzhe (Insects Awaken) each year, the county magistrate presided over a sacrificial ceremony before tea picking began. Legend has it that after the ceremony, attendants would beat drums and gongs and shout in unison, “The tea buds are sprouting!” Upon which, the well water would surge up—hence the spring was called “Shouting Spring,” the well “Summoned Spring,” and the well’s name Tongxian Well. Beside the well was built a high platform called Shouting Mountain Platform. Although the garden’s structures had collapsed by the mid-Ming Dynasty, the well and spring remain, with the spring still yielding fresh, delicious water. A teahouse now stands on the site of the former Imperial Tea Garden.

According to the Chong’an County Annals, during the Zhenyuan period of the Tang Dynasty (785–805 AD), the area around Wuyi Mountain was already producing “Yan’gao” tea—tea that was steamed, roasted, ground into paste, and shaped into cakes. This is considered the earliest form of Wuyi Rock Tea. The great Song Dynasty literary figure Su Dongpo praised it in his tea poem: “Tiny sprouts by the Wuyi streams, blended and praised by Ding and Cai.” The submission of Wuyi Rock Tea as tribute began in the Song Dynasty, but the establishment of the Imperial Tea Garden was in the sixth year of the Yuandade era (1302 AD).

Historical records state that in its early days, the Imperial Tea Garden flourished greatly. Its general layout included the Renfeng Gate at the front, the Bafa Hall (also called the First Spring Hall), Qingchan Hall at the back, and surrounding it were the Sijing Pavilion, Beifang Pavilion, Yanjia Pavilion, Yiji Pavilion, and Fuguang Pavilion. Additionally, there were the Bitian Bridge and Tongxian Well. Two field officials managed the garden, delivering 360 jin of tribute tea annually. In the fifth year of the Taiding era (1328 AD), Zhang Ruiben, the magistrate of Chong’an County, built a tea field on each side of the garden.

In the third year of the Zhishun era (1332 AD), Andulu, the superintendent of Jianing, built a five-foot-high, sixteen-square-foot platform beside Tongxian Well, named “Shouting Mountain Platform.” A pavilion atop it was called “Shouting Spring Pavilion.” It is said that every year on the day of Jingzhe, the magistrate of Chong’an County would hold a grand mountain-opening ceremony here. As the magistrate offered incense, knelt in worship, and finished reciting the sacrificial text, attendants would beat drums and gongs while shouting in unison, “The tea is sprouting, the tea is sprouting!” Only after the ceremony could tea harvesting begin.

The rise and fall of the Imperial Tea Garden was lamented by the renowned Qing scholar Dong Tiangong in his poem “Reflections on Tribute Tea”: “Wuyi’s tiny sprouts, plucked and offered to the royal house. Fire divided in first and second stages, spring distinguished by its initial excellence. Hard to compare with Heyuan, let alone boast over Beiyuan. Tribute began from Gaoxing, leaving lasting stains on Duanming.” The Imperial Tea Garden made outstanding contributions to the transformation of Chinese oolong tea production techniques.

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area

Da’an Yuan Ecotourism Zone

Dahongpao Scenic Area

China Wuyi Mountain Tea Expo Park

Nine-Bend Stream

Qinglong Grand Waterfall

Wuyi

Water Curtain Cave in Wuyi Mountain

Great King Peak

One Line Sky in Wuyi Mountain

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock

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Emerald Valley in Wuyi Mountain

Jade Dragon Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall

White Cloud Rock in Wuyi Mountain