Hollyhock Tea Mountain

Hollyhock Tea Mountain

The Hollyhock Mountain Scenic Area is located 4 kilometers west of Pingle Ancient Town in Qionglai City, Sichuan Province. By car along the Huangjinyan to Huanghua Road, it takes about 20 minutes, and after passing through more than ten miles of bamboo forests, you’ll arrive at the Hollyhock Mountain Scenic Area, known as the “rustic home of the locals, a paradise on earth.” The area features rolling green mountains, lush trees, and murmuring streams. It boasts the Hollyhock Imperial Tea, which was bestowed the title of “Best Tea Garden Under Heaven” by Emperor Kangxi; a serene bamboo forest stretching across thousands of acres; a breathtaking ten-mile-long corridor; and the mysterious Guantian Cave. The Li Family Courtyard, represented by its Qing Dynasty-era residences and honored with the imperial plaque “Imperial Grace Bestowed” personally given by Emperor Guangxu, still retains its original appearance from over a hundred years ago. Scattered throughout the bamboo groves are traditional homes of western Sichuan, giving the area a strong rustic charm. The simple locals work diligently in the fields, living peaceful and contented rural lives. It is a rural retreat where modern urbanites can return to simplicity and reconnect with nature, as well as an idyllic paradise for relaxation and rejuvenation. The Li Family Courtyard is the collective name for more than ten farmsteads on Hollyhock Mountain. The Li family originally came from Zhejiang and fled here hundreds of years ago to escape war. They became wealthy through tea-making and paper production, and the tea they produced is the Hollyhock Tea. Hollyhock Tea was once an imperial tribute, with records of it dating back to the Song Dynasty. The Hollyhock Tea grown in the Li Family Courtyard benefits from the tranquil, undisturbed mountain air and rain, giving the tea a pure, sweet aroma. The entire complex covers a construction area of 4,164 square meters, with a total of 149 rooms. The front row of the small courtyard has 8 rooms, which were used to house guards and sedan-chair bearers. The inner part of the courtyard includes the main residence, featuring a living room, guest rooms, a study, and the bedrooms of the owners and their daughters. The rear section is a smaller courtyard, where servants, pigs, and firewood were kept.

At the summit of Hollyhock Mountain lies a tea plantation that produces imperial tea of exceptional quality. Emperor Kangxi once bestowed the title “Best Tea Garden Under Heaven” upon this area.

Location

Hollyhock Tea Mountain, Pingle Ancient Town, Qionglai City, Chengdu, Sichuan, China