Along the Yangtze River: Tea culture helps develop tourism in rural Guizhou

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Tea farmers are profiting from tourism. In this episode of our series on the economic belt along the Yangtze River, CGTN reporter Ning Hong paid a visit to a remote village in Guizhou Province.

On the mountains of Guizhou, scattered tea farms are the pillar of the local economy. This is Meitan county, the second largest tea production base in China.   Tea farming has helped bring over 30 thousand people out of poverty.  

NING HONG  MEITAN COUNTY, GUIZHOU "For decades, villagers here have made a living by growing and selling tea. Now, this newest attempt aims to develop tourism by promoting tea culture."

Locals painted their homes with different colors in order to attract more tourists. And they gave a new name to their village, the Seven Color Tribe. Houses were turned into stores. Fan Lin said she was attracted by this place and decided to start a business here. Building tourism with tea culture.

FAN LIN BUSINESSWOMAN "I would take tourists to the tea plantation and show them how to pick tea, and how to process fresh leaves into finished tea. It certainly provides a unique experience for many."   

There are 70 households here. Since 2015, tourism has brought an income of 50 million yuan to locals. And provided 400 jobs.

LIU YUNZE LOCAL CPC WORKING COMMITTEE "During the daytime, villagers work on tea farms. At night, the wooden walkway is lit up. Tourists can do jogging and enjoy rural life."   

The area of the tea garden is also expanding; many villages have gained investment. Farmers are now shareholders, the combination of tea farming with tourism is now a new engine of growth for the local economy. Ning Hong, CGTN, Guizhou Province.