Gulaotea Cultural Ecotourism Area

Gulaotea Cultural Ecotourism Area

The Gulaotea Cultural Ecotourism Area is located in Liutou Village, Dongmen Town, Fusui County, Chongzuo City, Guangxi. It stretches from the mountain pass between Hepi Mountain and Tieling Mountain in the north to the boundary between Fusui and Shangsi counties in the south, bordered by Tieling Mountain in the east and the administrative boundary between Liutou Village and Gecun Village in the west, covering a planned area of 2,197 hectares.

Currently, Gulaotea is primarily found in Gulaotun, Dongmen Town. There are over 5,100 wild ancient arbor tea trees in Gulaotun, including more than 1,500 that are over 100 years old, over 100 that are 500 years old, and 7 that are over 1,000 years old. Bathed year-round in mist and nourished by mountain springs, these trees thrive in a pristine environment enriched with beneficial trace elements such as potassium, zinc, and selenium, giving the tea its exceptional natural quality. Zhuangxiang Hong (lit. "Zhuang Fragrance Red") has a dark blackish-red hue with tightly curled leaves. Once brewed, the tea liquor is golden, clear, and bright. It boasts a rich, enduring flavor with a smooth mouthfeel and a lingering honey-like aroma at the bottom of the cup—even after 20 infusions, the taste remains full and sweet. Authoritative tests have confirmed that Zhuangxiang Hong ranks first among similar teas in terms of polyphenol content. From 2011 to 2014, it was the designated tea for the China-ASEAN Expo. Gulaotea offers a range of health benefits: it refreshes the mind, aids digestion, relieves hangovers, clears heat and toxins, boosts energy and thirst relief, strengthens the body and promotes urination, prevents colds, and improves digestion. Long-term consumption can aid in weight loss and skin health. A strong cup can quickly stop diarrhea, while brewing old leaves to wash infected areas can heal sores or skin inflammations. When feeling exhausted or low in spirits, drinking a hot, concentrated cup induces sweating, revitalizes the body, and restores vitality. Regular consumption also enhances appetite, regulates bodily functions, strengthens the constitution, and delays aging. Gulaotea holds immense cultural, economic, and tourism development value.

The Gulaotea Cultural Ecotourism Area leverages its beautiful mountain-water ecological environment and pleasant climate, with the conservation of large tracts of wild ancient tea tree clusters as its foundation. Tea plantation cultivation serves as the primary industry, while cultural experiences, wellness retreats, rural leisure, and agricultural recreation form its core functions. The area is divided into three functional zones: the Tea Mountain Eco-Wellness Zone, the Tea Countryside Leisure Zone, and the Valley Sightseeing Experience Zone. Key tourism activities include ancient tea appreciation, garden science education, tea culture experiences, Zen tea wellness, and leisure retreats. The goal is to establish a national AAAA-level tourist attraction themed around tea culture leisure experiences, a four-star rural tourism destination in Guangxi, and to create a top-tier regional brand for tea culture experiential tourism.

In 2016, Gulaotun received 2 million yuan in special poverty alleviation funds for tourism from the autonomous region, primarily used to develop tourism infrastructure such as a visitor service center, parking lots, toilets, rest plazas, signage, hiking trails through the tea mountains, and farmhouse inns. Through tourism development, Gulaotun will effectively improve the village’s appearance, boost farmers’ incomes, and raise living standards. It will also create a one-day tour route for Liutou Village. In the first phase of planning, visitors arriving at the village entrance will immediately sense the aroma of tea upon passing through the sculptural gate, with expansive tea fields and ponds instantly calming their minds. Strolling along walking trails, admiring ancient tea trees, tasting and purchasing Gulaotea, enjoying farmhouse meals, experiencing rural life, hiking, cycling, fishing, and tea picking offer endless fun, laying a solid foundation for future tourism development in Liutou Village.