Dahongpao Scenic Area

Dahongpao Scenic Area

The Dahongpao Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Dahongpao Scenic Area is named after the most famous Dahongpao tea produced in Wuyi Mountain. One of the scenic spots is the Dahongpao tea tree, and Dahongpao is also part of the "World Natural and Cultural Heritage." Wuyi Mountain's "Dahongpao" is ranked as the top among Wuyi rock teas. The mother tree of Dahongpao grows on the steep cliffs of Jiulongke in Wuyi Mountain, where sunlight is scarce, there is abundant light reflection, large diurnal temperature variations, and fine springs continuously moisten the cliff top throughout the year. It is said that: "When brewed, the tea liquor is bright orange-yellow, the leaves show a mix of red and green, the aroma is rich and long-lasting, the taste is mellow, and it leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth."

The cliffs of the Dahongpao Scenic Area feature three bright red Chinese characters: "大红袍" (Dahongpao). The Dahongpao tea bushes have dense foliage, with branches extending upwards and leaves shaped like wide ovals, their tips drooping downward and edges curling inward. The leaf color is dark green and glossy, while new buds may have a purplish-red tint. In early spring when the tea trees sprout, from a distance the entire tree looks fiery red, as if draped in a red robe.

Yearly spring winds blow from the southeast, first warming the Jianxi waters. By the stream grows the world’s finest tea, planted since ancient times by Wuyi’s immortals. — Song Dynasty, Fan Zhongyan

Wuyi rock tea is very famous. By the Yuan Dynasty, an imperial tea garden had already been established here to oversee the production of tribute tea. Dahongpao is the crown jewel among Wuyi rock teas. It grows in Jiulongke in the northern part of Wuyi Mountain, where only four bushes remain, making it extremely precious. Jiulongke is a valley nourished by clear springs, with the Dahongpao bushes growing at an altitude of over 600 meters, surrounded by cascading streams and misty clouds. Spring water seeping from the rocks nourishes them, so they thrive without the need for fertilizers. Every year from May 13th to 15th, locals set up ladders to harvest the tea. The yield is extremely small—just a few taels—and it is considered a rare treasure.

Legend has it: Dahongpao seeds were carried by a crane from Penglai Island and landed on this cliff in Wuyi Mountain, where they grew into the tea bushes. Another legend says that monks from Tianxin Temple once used the tea from these bushes to cure an emperor’s illness. In gratitude, the emperor draped the red robe worn by the top scholar over the tea bushes, and the red color dyed the bushes.

The name of the Dahongpao Scenic Area comes from the mother tree of Dahongpao located within the area. Dahongpao is the crown jewel of Wuyi rock teas and grows in Jiulongke in the northern part of Wuyi Mountain. Currently, only a few mother trees of Dahongpao remain, making them extremely valuable. Major attractions in the area include Niulankeng, Yongle Chan Temple, Dahongpao, Sanhua Peak, Leishi Rock, Matou Rock, Wuyuan Cave, and Dujie Rock. The main highlights are visiting the largest temple in Wuyi Mountain, Tianxin Yongle Chan Temple, and seeing the legendary tea, Dahongpao.

Visiting the Dahongpao mother tree requires a bit of a walk. Along the way, on your left are mountain cliffs, and on your right are tea plantations. The terraced fields grow various tea varieties, all of which are rock teas, with Dahongpao being one of them. You can learn about the origins and varieties of Wuyi rock tea, which is quite enlightening. The mother tree grows on the cliff face and no longer produces tea. In the past, its yield was also extremely limited, supposedly reserved solely for the central government. In 1972, when Nixon visited China, Chairman Mao gave him just four taels, while the annual yield of the Dahongpao mother tree is only ten taels.

If you wish to buy some regular Dahongpao tea, you can do so at the rest area nearby. The Dahongpao tea bags here are very popular and sell well. There is also tea-flavored eggs claimed to be cooked with Dahongpao tea leaves. Besides the Dahongpao mother tree, another highlight in the area is Yongle Chan Temple. The temple architecture is grand, built along a central axis with structures such as the Maitreya Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, Dharma Hall, storerooms, dining hall, meditation hall, guest hall, and pilgrim building. The towers and pavilions stand majestically, appearing serene and elegant amidst the trees, perfect for leisurely exploration.

Walking along the rugged paths, you will be enchanted by the beautiful scenery around you and find it hard to leave. The profound cliff inscriptions, the rich and mellow tea culture, and the long-standing Buddhist culture offer a harmonious blend of artistic and natural beauty, creating a deeply immersive and delightful experience. This is an ecological journey, a tea journey, and also a cultural journey. Ancient literati left their inscriptions here, eminent monks paused in their spiritual journeys here, and modern travelers find themselves spellbound.

Upon entering the Dahongpao Scenic Area, you will notice the lush tea bushes planted along the roadside, arranged neatly yet naturally, blending harmoniously with the crimson cliffs and emerald waters, unique yet full of charm. Wuyi Mountain has “ten oddities,” one of which is “every household sells tea.” Everyone in Wuyi, young and old, understands the art of tea. When tea is mentioned, they speak with great familiarity. The Dahongpao tea culture tourism route has become a classic among Wuyi Mountain tours.

The growing place of Dahongpao: Jiulongke. Jiulongke is a deep and mysterious valley with rugged peaks, named after the nine dragons said to reside here. The valley features scattered boulders and trickling springs, covered with clusters of tea bushes, truly a vibrant “kingdom of tea.” At the last niche of Jiulongke, among the cliffs, there is a teapot-shaped terraced tea garden built with stones, where several tea bushes grow. These are the world-renowned “King of Teas”—the Dahongpao tea bushes. Dahongpao earned the title of “King of Teas” due to its exceptional growing environment.

Wuyi rock tea has a long and glorious history in the development of Chinese tea. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Wuyi tea was known as “Wanganghou” (a tea name). In the Tang Dynasty, it became a prized gift among scholars and nobility. In the Song Dynasty, it was offered as tribute to the imperial court and reached its peak, becoming a daily essential drink. By the Yuan Dynasty, the court established an imperial tea garden by the fourth bend of the Nine-Bend Stream. Historical records say: During the Yuan Dynasty, when Gao Xing, the Pacification Commissioner of Zhejiang Province, passed through Wuyi Mountain, he tasted the then-called “Shiru” rock tea and was struck by its fragrant, sweet, and pure taste. He immediately changed his travel plans, hired locals to collect several kilograms, had it processed, and presented it to the court, earning great praise from the royal family. In the sixth year of the Yuandade era (1302 AD), the court ordered Gao Jiuzhu, Gao Xing’s son and the governor of Shaowu Prefecture, to oversee the production of tribute tea in Wuyi Mountain. In 1302, the court decreed the establishment of a royal tea-processing bureau in Wuyi Mountain, dedicated to cultivating tea for the royal family and processing tribute tea. This site is the “Imperial Tea Garden” ruins within the Dahongpao Scenic Area.

The former “Imperial Tea Garden” was entirely designed and constructed according to the model of a royal tribute production site. Major structures included Renfeng Gate, Baifa Hall, Qingshen Hall, Sijing Hall, Beifang Hall, Yanjia Pavilion, as well as Tongxian Well and Hanshan Platform. The buildings were magnificent and imposing. Every year on the Awakening of Insects, successive magistrates of Chongan County would worship the mountain god at the Hanshan Platform, praying for a bountiful tea harvest. Legend says that one magistrate forgot to perform the ritual on time and was punished by the emperor, stripped of his position and sent home to eat plain rice, losing his career in a moment of carelessness—illustrating the high regard the court placed on Wuyi rock tea.

Address: Beside Provincial Highway 303, Wuyishan City, Nanping (exit at Jiulong Toll Station); located within the Wuyishan National Key Scenic Area

Type: Mountain & Temple

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0599-5134010

Opening hours:

Summer: 6:30–18:00; Winter: 7:00–17:30

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Wuyishan Scenic Area ticket (210 RMB), only combo tickets are available.

Wuyishan Scenic Area Combo Ticket

1. One-day pass: 140 RMB/person

2. Two-day pass: 150 RMB/person

3. Three-day pass: 160 RMB/person

Transportation

It is within the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area and can be reached on foot.

Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area

Da'anyuan Ecotourism Zone

China Wuyi Tea Museum Park

Nine-Bend Stream

Qinglong Waterfall

Wuyi Crape Myrtle Self-Drive Theme Park

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Great King Peak

Wuyi Mountain One-Line Sky

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock

Cloud Nest

Wuyi Mountain Jade Valley

Imperial Tea Garden Ruins

Yulong Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall

Wuyi Mountain White Cloud Rock