Spring tea harvest begins in Guiyang

With the arrival of spring, tea gardens in Guiyang City and Gui'an New Area are filled with vitality.

Tea buds are sprouting fresh green leaves under the warm spring sunshine at Hongfeng Shanyun Tea Plantation in Dazhong village, Hongfenghu town, Qingzhen county-level city.

Farmers harvest fresh tea leaves. [Photo/WeChat account of Zhzizhi Guiyang]

Tea farmers ascend the mountains to harvest the first flush of tea, which, after meticulous processing, quickly reaches the market, marking the beginning of the spring tea economy.

Hongfeng Shanyun Tea Plantation Co is a modern enterprise that integrates tea planting, production, processing, and sales. The company manages 580 mu (38.67 hectares) of tea plantations and has encouraged farmers to cultivate over 1,000 additional mu, forming a large-scale tea production base.

A farmer works at the tea production line. [Photo/WeChat account of Zhzizhi Guiyang]

"Two workers can operate a production line, processing 250-300 kilograms of fresh tea leaves into over 100 kg of dried tea daily," said Zhang Min, a tea master at the plantation. "Our tea is of excellent quality, has an attractive shape, and a delightful taste."

With support from Guiyang bureau of agricultural and rural affairs, the plantation collaborates with research institutions to enhance tea quality through advanced planting, pest control, and processing techniques. Demand exceeds supply, with products reaching Guizhou, Guangdong, and Zhejiang. This year's total spring tea output is expected to reach 2-3 metric tons.

Factory director Ran Wending plans to further integrate tea tourism, offering sightseeing experiences and leisure activities. Full-scale spring tea harvesting is expected around March 20, with experts guiding farmers to ensure productivity and quality, supporting rural vitalization.