Fengqing Tea

Fengqing Tea

　　“I draw sweet spring water tinged with fallen blooms, and lightly fire my stone kettle to brew fresh tea.” These lines were written by Xu Xiake, the famed geographer of the Ming Dynasty, in the 12th year of the Chongzhen era (1639) when he passed through Shunning and stayed overnight at Gaojingcao (now within the territory of Maxiang Village, Dasi), and the “sweet spring” and “fresh tea” he referred to come from Dasi Township in Fengqing County, which boasts a 400- to 500-year history of tea growing.

　　 　　Dasi Township in Fengqing County is located in the northwest of the county, on the southern bank of the Lancang River, 36 kilometers from the county seat. It borders Xiaowan Town to the east, neighbors Muyou Town to the west, and connects to Changning County of Baoshan City to the northwest. Covering a total area of 223.557 square kilometers, the township sits at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,679.8 meters, featuring distinct vertical climates, abundant resources, an average annual temperature of 16.7°C, and an average annual rainfall of 1,380.7 millimeters. It governs 11 village committees and 235 villager groups, with a total population of 36,735 at the end of 2002. The forest coverage rate reaches 39.9%, and the total economic income amounts to 37.3726 million yuan. It is a green economic township on the rise, characterized by spring-like weather year-round, misty landscapes, and an increasingly rationalized industrial structure.

　　 　　Dasi Township focuses primarily on developing a green regional economy and holds unique advantages in economic growth. First, it serves as a world-renowned base for green tea raw materials and production. With a 400- to 500-year history of tea cultivation, Dasi is one of the main production areas for raw materials used in Fengqing Dianhong tea and refined green tea, particularly well known for its green tea production. The “Jianshan Yunwu” brand of refined green tea from Dasi has twice won gold awards at the World Food Expo. The township has 23,158 mu of productive tea gardens, yielding a total output of 23,158 dan and generating 6.82 million yuan in output value. It has also established 6,296 mu of high-quality tea gardens, with 1,500 mu already in production, making its tea output rank second in the county.