Bazhong is located in the northeast of Sichuan Province, on the southern slope of Dabashan Mountains and in the heart of the Qinba Mountain Area, which is the center of the original habitat for Tea trees in Southwest China. Planting of tea in this region dates back to the ancient State of Ba, where the people offered tea as a tribute. This practice has a history of more than 3,000 years. Bazhong is renowned as the “China Natural Selenium-Rich Tea Hometown” and is included in the “National Selenium-Rich Green Tea Advantage Production Zone” and the core area of the “Northeast Sichuan High Mountain Ecological Tea Industry Belt.” “Bazhong Cloud Peak” is a national geographical indication trademark and an excellent representative of high mountain tea. The tea gardens are mainly situated at altitudes between 800 and 1,200 meters along the 31st parallel north. The unique ecological climate nurtures superior quality tea, characterized by plump buds, tender leaves, good tenderness retention, rich water-soluble substances, selenium-rich, high zinc content, high amino acid levels, and high EGCG. It is known for its “intense aroma, fresh and mellow taste, and good durability when infused,” earning it the reputation of “Sichuan tea quality, look to Bazhong.”
Firstly, optimizing the variety structure and strengthening the brand's “core.” To improve industrial focus, the Bazhong Municipal Government issued the “Opinion on Accelerating the Implementation of the Large Variety Plan for Breeding and Rearing Industries” and the “Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Bazhong Tea Industry,” including the tea industry in the city's “2+1” large variety plan for breeding and rearing industries, with a focus on the competitive advantage of Nanjiang Large Leaf Tea and Zhongcha 108 in the Bazhong specialty tea industry. A mother garden covering 500 acres for Nanjiang Large Leaf Tea has been established, and the tea germplasm resource nursery in Xinglong Town, Tongjiang County, and Jinbao Mountain in Pingchang County have been improved over 300 acres. Sixty-eight new tea varieties have been introduced and demonstrated, and two intelligent seedling centers have been constructed. In 2025, the tea garden area in Bazhong reached 573,000 mu (approx. 38,200 hectares), with a comprehensive output value of the tea industry reaching 6.5 billion yuan. One provincial four-star modern agricultural park for tea and six municipal modern agricultural parks have been built, making it the largest high mountain selenium-rich tea industrial base in Sichuan Province.
Secondly, adhering to green production to ensure brand quality. Persisting with both “green” and “organic” approaches, integrated promotion of green precise control techniques and eco-cultivation models such as livestock-biogas-tea and tea-soybean intercropping have been implemented across 32,000 mu (approx. 2,133 hectares) of tea gardens, achieving a green prevention rate of 85% in Bazhong's tea gardens. Standards such as the “Processing Technical Regulations for ‘Bazhong Cloud Peak' Congou Black Tea,” the “Processing Technical Specifications for ‘Bazhong Cloud Peak' High-Quality Green Tea,” and the “Technical Regulations for the Construction of ‘Bazhong Cloud Peak' Mechanized Tea Gardens” have been formulated. Continuous strengthening of tea quality and safety monitoring has been carried out, with tea accounting for more than 3% of the total sample volume in the city, covering all authorized “Bazhong Cloud Peak” brand users. Forty-four tea products have received green food and organic product certifications.
Fourthly, actively promoting the brand to enhance its reputation. Vigorously implementing the strategy of “regional brand + corporate brand + product brand,” actively participating in tea expos, agricultural expos, and other promotional activities, and hosting the “Bazhong Cloud Peak” Tea culture and Tourism Festival for seven consecutive years. Notable figures in the tea industry, such as Chen Zongmao and Liu Zhonghua, and companies like Beijing Small Can Tea Co., Ltd. have been invited to promote “Bazhong Cloud Peak.” Persisting with the “advance westward and move northward” strategy, special marketing promotions have been conducted in the northwest and north markets, establishing 105 sales outlets in major cities across the country, continuously enhancing brand influence and market share. “Bazhong Cloud Peak” has been selected as a “Tianfu Granary” Premium (Cultivation) Brand and an Excellent Agricultural Regional Public Brand in Sichuan Province. Individual brands such as Luocun Green Tea and Qinba Minglan Guoxiang have successively won honors such as the “Most Influential Tea Single Product in Sichuan” and the “Gold Award” in the China Tea Cup.
Fifthly, integrating tea tourism to enrich the brand culture. Integrating industrial parks, scenic agricultural areas, and new communities, we promote the integration of tea and tourism. Three tea-related AAAA-rated national scenic spots and two “Top Ten Most Beautiful Tea Villages in Sichuan Province” have been successfully created. The tea tourism route of “Fotou Mountain – Bantemple – Thirty-Two Ridge” in Pingchang County has been included among the top 100 national red tea village fine tourism routes. We have transformed tea areas into scenic spots, tea gardens into parks, and tea products into gifts, making the red tea villages a shining business card for the cultural tourism and health industry in Bazhong City.
