At the sight of the lush Tea gardens in Xikou, one is immediately reminded of Tao Yuanming's verse: “Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge, I gaze upon the tranquil southern mountains with ease.”
Set amidst the rolling hills of Longtanping Town in Sangzhi County, Xikou Village is home to expansive tea gardens that stretch over five thousand mu, resembling a vast sea of green. The ancient tea trees here have their roots deep in the yellow sandy soil, drawing nourishment and growing vigorously, their leaves small and tender. The unique environment and flavor profile of these ancient tea trees make Xikou tea stand out for its quality, like a precious gem of nature.
Each leaf is like a heartfelt poem, imbued with the essence of nature and the sedimentation of time. As Du Fu once said, “The good rain knows the season, it falls when spring comes.” The tea gardens of Xikou, nurtured by the spring rains, are like a grand feast of nature. Each tender green leaf carries the blessings of the mountains and the careful tending of people. A pot of tea, clear and transparent, seems to embody the mountain streams, reflecting the purity and depth of nature.
The tea gardens of Xikou are not only beautiful because of the tea trees but also because of the spring water from Fengyan Mountain. The spring water of Fengyan Mountain is like heavenly nectar, providing the purest source of water for the tea. Just as Li Bai wrote in “Ode to Drinking,” “Do you not see how the waters of the Yellow River come from heaven?” The tea of Xikou is made even purer and more fragrant by the sweet spring of Fengyan Mountain. Every sip of the tea, sweet and clear, is the most precious gift of nature.
The Louli Tea Factory in Xikou is like a gentle breeze caressing every leaf in the gardens. Despite being 72 kilometers away from the county seat, this distance does not diminish the influence on the tea of Xikou. The factory acts as an invisible artist, using advanced technology and actively promoting a multi-faceted integrated industrial model, transforming from “quantity over quality” to “quality over quantity” and “innovation over quantity,” striving to achieve the goal of building an industry and enriching the local people through a single leaf, fully advancing the high-quality development of the tea industry.
This factory not only brings technological innovation but also acts like a generous benefactor, freely providing 100 mu of tea seedlings and over 200 tons of organic fertilizer to the tea farmers of Xikou Village. It patiently imparts planting techniques to the farmers, allowing them to find hope in the tea gardens. With the support of the tea factory, the farmers blossom like flowers about to bloom, exuding vitality. The living standards of the villagers improve alongside the prosperity of the tea gardens, as if nourished by a spring rain.
The villagers use their hardworking hands to transform every inch of the tea garden into fields of hope.
In the morning light, the tea leaves unfurl; in the gentle breeze, they dance. Each leaf is a sedimentation of time. In the tea gardens, people bustle about, and songs fill the air. The villagers, dressed in traditional Tujia attire, carry baskets and wear straw hats, singing folk songs of Sangzhi while picking fresh tea leaves. The scene of harvest is intoxicating to both the eye and the heart.
The tea of Xikou dances in the Teacup, each sip a crystallization of the essence of the mountains and the sweat of the people. Its fragrance and aftertaste are a microcosm of the spirit of Xikou Village. Every hint of sweetness is a hopeful expectation for life. Su Shi once wrote, “Viewed from the side, it becomes a peak; viewed from afar or near, each differs.” The tea of Xikou displays its unique charm under different lights.
The tea of Xikou is not only a treasure among teas but also a symbol of culture. The quality of the tea and the depth of its culture inject endless possibilities into the revitalization of this land. As Lu You wrote in “Cooling off at Dawn in Autumn Night,” “The three-thousand-li river flows eastward into the sea, and the five-thousand-meter peak reaches up to touch the sky.” The tea gardens of Xikou showcase the perfect fusion of nature and culture in all its splendor.
This tea garden is like a condensed scroll of history, unfolded amidst the beautiful mountains and rivers, conveying the boundless charm of the interweaving of nature and culture. Each leaf, like an ancient page, opens up to harmony between nature and humanity. Each Cup of tea blends the essence of nature and reflects people's love and dedication to life.
The tea gardens of Xikou record the passage of time and the tranquility of the soul. The harmony between humans and nature, and the prosperity and fragrance of the tea, add color to the new canvas of revitalization in Xikou.