From barren hills to prosperous tea fields: The rise of Tiangui Tea Garden in Wudang

After the rain cleared, villagers were busy harvesting summer tea at Tiangui Tea Garden in Guaibi village, Wudang district, on May 21. Inside the processing workshop, fresh leaves were being withered, rolled, fermented, and dried in preparation for shipment across China.

Tiangui Tea Garden in Wudang district. [Photo/Guiyang Daily]

"Ten years ago, this was barren land," said villager Yang Rongjuan. In 2014, the village introduced Guizhou Tiangui Tea Co to turn idle hills into a thriving tea base. Now, the tea garden provides local jobs and attracts tourists.

With flexible hours and daily pay, villagers like Yang Longju earn over 100 yuan ($14) a day by picking tea. Some make more than 200 yuan daily during the peak season.

Tiangui Tea Garden covers 3,000 mu (200 hectares) in total, with 15 tea varieties growing on the plantation's core 600 mu. It also features a 2,700-square-meter processing plant with equipment for green, black, and white teas, producing up to 100,000 kilograms of dry tea annually.

"The garden operates on a 'village collective + company' model, returning 20 percent of profits to the village," said manager Jiang Dongcai. The project provides work to over 100 villagers annually.

Inspired by this success, more villagers started growing tea. Now, over 40 households have planted more than 1,000 mu and opened two local tea factories. One farmer, Zhou Dingsong, built his own workshop and later founded Guizhou Chensong Tea Co, expanding to 100 mu with an annual income of 200,000 yuan.

The region's ideal climate, high selenium soil, and pollution-free environment ensure top-quality teas that are now sold in provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Hong Kong. Tiangui Tea has earned multiple honors, including being listed among the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Tea Gardens in Guiyang" in 2024.

With a complete industrial chain spanning from planting to sales, Wudang's tea sector is driving green development and rural vitalization. In 2024 alone, the district produced 476 metric tons of tea worth 62 million yuan, offering jobs to 200 villagers and boosting incomes.