Early summer mist swirls around Mount Wuyi, cradling terraced tea gardens where streams weave through emerald valleys. The UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site in southeastern China's Fujian province is the only place in the country where Wuyi rock tea, a variation of oolong tea, is grown. Historical records describe more than 200 types of rock tea produced in the Wuyishan area.
At daybreak, pickers move through dewy bushes. Using their thumbs and forefingers, they gently snap tea buds with three to four mature leaves, ensuring optimal flavor.
Freshly plucked leaves travel swiftly down winding trails. Within hours, these leaves will begin their transformation under the hands of master craftsmen.
