Recently, Hangzhou’s annual premier tea event, the 2026 West Lake Longjing Spring Tea Season, officially opened in Longwu Tea Town. Vast tea plantations have been transformed into an immersive tea-themed cultural tourism destination, where the traditional heritage of West Lake Longjing is integrated with modern cultural and tourism experiences, attracting visitors from both China and abroad.
At the event, a highlight was the live demonstration of traditional stir-frying by skilled artisans. With a sizzling sound, fresh tea leaves were cast into hot wok, instantly creating a billow of steam and releasing a rich, aromatic tea fragrance. The artisans pressed, turned, and shaped the leaves with practiced movements, their hands working skillfully over the heated surface. Crowds gathered several rows deep. Among them was NARGIZ, a visitor from Azerbaijan, who stood on tiptoe to watch the entire process. “It is truly impressive to see tea being made by hand in this way,” she said.
This tea-themed carnival also featured a wide range of activities, presenting the diverse charm of the tea region. Faculty members and students from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music brought pianos into the tea hills, performing themed programs such as Awakening Spring Mountain and Rich Tea Aroma over two consecutive days. Classical music resonated across the tea terraces, allowing visitors to experience a harmonious blend of music and nature amid the fragrance of tea.
In addition, local tea farmers collaborated with faculty and students from the China Academy of Art to create a distinctive marketplace. Over 120 unique stalls were set within the tea plantation landscape. Offering Freshly picked spring tea, creatively designed artistic merchandise, and loacl Hangzhou delicacies. This innovative setting broke away from traditional market stereotypes formats and become a popular attraction, especially among younger visitors.
To preserve the intangible cultural heritage of tea-processing techniques, 20 former “Tea-Frying Champions” and representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage took part in a live skills showcase and competition. Their skilled techniques and exquisite heritage displays captivated many residents and tourists, offering them a close-up experience of the profound cultural legacy of West Lake Longjing.
Behind the vibrant scene lies a deeper transformation of Longwu Tea Town—from selling tea products to offering integrated cultural experiences. Data shows that in March of last year, the town received nearly 800,000 visitors, generating 80 million yuan in revene. Since this March, visitor numbers have increased by 50% compared with normal periods, reflecting the effectiveness of this transformation.
Today Longwu Tea Town is actively exploringa new development model, shifting from exporting agricultural products to promoting a lifestyle centered on tea culture. With West Lake Longjing as its core, the town is advancing the integration of tea with culture, tourism, art, and commerce, enabling visitors to experience, explore, and appreciate its unique appeal. As a variety of tea-related activities continue to unfold, the international influence of the West Lake Longjing brand continues to grow. Using tea as a medium, China is building and conveying its cultural confidence on the global stage.
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Company Name: Longwu Tea Town
Contact Person: FANG YIJIA
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://tidenews.com.cn/news.html?id=3405159
