(Photos provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhuji City)
Zhuji is not only the birthplace of Xishi but also a significant region for China's tea industry and culture. Ma Yapeng, President of the Zhuji City Tea Industry Association, stated that Xishi Shidian Tea represents more than just a type of tea; it is a historical tapestry showcasing the tea industry of Zhuji and a legacy of a millennium of agricultural civilization.
(Photos provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhuji City)
Zhuji is a major tea-producing area in Zhejiang Province. It is not only the birthplace of Xishi, who as one of the four great beauties of ancient China has had a profound and widespread influence, but also a place rich in Tea culture. By empowering the historical tea with the “Xishi” IP, combining “Xishi” with “Shidian Tea,” a new regional public brand named “Xishi Shidian” has been created, leading this millennia-old tea category towards new heights.
(Photos provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhuji City)
Zhuji has a long history of tea cultivation and a deep cultural heritage. Its history spans over a thousand years. In the Tang Dynasty, Zhuji was already a well-known main tea-producing area. Dongbai Mountain within its territory produced tea originally known as Shidian Tea, also called “Falling-Water Ridge Immortal Brew,” which was a famous tea product of Yue Prefecture at the time.
Historical records provide detailed accounts of Zhuji's tea. According to Lu Yu's “Treatise on Tea” from the Tang Dynasty, “In Zhejiang East, Yue Prefecture ranks highest.” The Song Dynasty's “Records of Shaoxing” states, “The most renowned teas from Yue Prefecture include the Rizhu tea from Kuaiji, the Wulong tea from Shanyin, and the Shidian tea from Zhuji…”. During the Ming dynasty, Shidian Tea became a tribute item. By the Qing dynasty, tea was being exported overseas. In 2022, the public brand “Xishi Shidian” tea was launched in Zhuji City. With the establishment of the brand, the Xishi Shidian Tea, carrying the historical accumulation of a thousand years of cultural heritage, is leveraging its unique ecological advantages, expanding its market share and brand influence, and regaining its vitality.
(Photos provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhuji City)
Zhuji City is also integrating the tea industry with the cultural and tourism industries, transforming it from a primary industry to a comprehensive one that encompasses all three sectors. This has further expanded the industry's scope, turning tea gardens into parks, tea areas into scenic spots, and tea mountains into golden mountains. In recent years, the city has hosted various tea-related events such as tea expos, tea-making competitions, and tea art performances, incorporating elements like agritourism experiences, eco-wellness, photography, and sketching into every aspect of tea planting, picking, and processing, allowing visitors to learn while playing and play while learning.
(Photos provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Zhuji City)