Exclusive Reading
Ties with TanYang:
The Legend of a Tea and a Village
Planned by the Editorial Department of “Tea Way”
TanYang Village, located at the foot of Mount Baiyun in FuAn City, is a picturesque village that has gained international fame due to the creation of a Black Tea. From the successful trial production of black tea during the Yongzheng-Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty to its naming as TanYang Gongfu in the first year of the Xianfeng era (1851), TanYang prospered due to the flourishing tea trade and also experienced periods of decline.
Since the reform and opening up, TanYang Village has staged a vivid practice of tea industry revival and poverty alleviation, and the story of “Four Visits to TanYang” is widely known and inspiring. In this new era, the people of TanYang are writing a TanYang model for rural revitalization with their legendary tea.
Today, the name TanYang signifies much more than the fragrant beauty of its tea; it represents not only the TanYang spirit of perseverance in overcoming poverty but also an enduring sentiment. The green mountains remain evergreen, and the clear waters flow continuously. After drinking TanYang Gongfu tea, the person may leave, but the sentiment remains.
The Origin and Development of TanYang Gongfu
TanYang Impressions:
A Century of Glory for the Tea Village, Continuously Writing an Ageless Legend
By Chen Wenyan
The terraced tea gardens are lush and verdant, with a stream winding through the village. Rich and diverse ancient architectural relics related to Tea culture, such as the Temple of Heavenly Queen, wind shelters, tea warehouses, residences of tea merchants, earthen watchtowers, and clan ancestral halls, contain profound historical and cultural significance and continue to write the ageless legend of the old tea village in a renewed state.
A Century-Old TanYang Gongfu
By Dashaoshen
A tea that can transcend a century of history and remain fresh and relevant ultimately relies on its quality and uniqueness – that is, it must stand on its own merits. With numerous varieties of Chinese black tea and fierce competition, if TanYang Gongfu were to rise above the rest solely based on “nature's gift,” it would be a superficial claim. Its quality is not just evident in its external color, aroma, and taste, but also in its intrinsic spirit – a pursuit of quality and respect for tradition. This craft has been passed down from generation to generation by tea farmers, who have dedicated themselves to preserving the purity and golden reputation of TanYang Gongfu.
A Journey of Ten Thousand Miles, Just for a Touch of “TanYang Red”
— An Interview with Huang Jincong, Chairman of TanYang Gongfu Tea Co., Ltd. in FuAn City, Fujian Province
By/Photographed by Yang Wei
Huang Jincong, who had lived in Canada for over 20 years, often crossed ten thousand miles to travel between the two countries for business and family visits. In 2025, a chance encounter led him to develop an indissoluble bond with TanYang Gongfu black tea, changing the course of his life. He not only crossed into a new field but also poured his energy and dedication into the magical leaves of NingDe with great passion. To him, reviving TanYang Gongfu is a responsibility, a sentiment of homeland and country, and a mission bestowed by heaven.
Tea Practice
Three “Dragons” Bring Good Fortune, Tea Initiates a New Year
— A Record of the 2024 JiaChen New Year Tea Gathering
By/Photographed by Yun Zelinsou
To welcome the New Year, Ming Shu, who was born in the Year of the Dragon, specially searched for three teas produced in different Dragon Years before the end of the old year. These included a 1976 (BingChen) aged Pu'er with tangerine peel, a 1988 (WuChen) Wuyi rock tea, and a 2000 (GengChen) Fuding White Tea. She invited friends and relatives to taste them together, marking the start of the New Year, which she named “Speaking of Dragons, Pointing to the Essence, Three Dragons Dancing in Spring.”
Object Language
“Speaking of Dragons, Pointing to Tea”: “Dragon Teas” and Dragon Patterned Tea Ware
By/Photographed by Guan Xiyang
Two cultural institutions, the Fujian Museum and the Fujian Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Garden, launched zodiac-themed exhibitions almost simultaneously for the Year of the Dragon. The former is called the “Dragon Walking China” Great Joint Exhibition of Dragon Year Cultural Relics, and the latter is called the “Dragon Soaring in a Blessed Land” New Year-themed Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage Works. Among the exhibits, there are no shortage of tea ware and incense ware, flower ware (ornamental ware), and other objects related to tea. The dragon pattern, as a symbol of imperial power, has also appeared splendidly on tea (in Compressed tea cakes) and tea ware. “Dragon” dances amidst the tea fragrance, embodying the grandeur of royalty.
Silent Appreciation
Quiet Joy in a Silent Tea Gathering
By Wen Yan / Photographed by Zhou Ang
Among the many cafes by the Erhai Lake in Dali, there is a unique tea space, reminiscent of Zhao's Tea House in the Tokyo of the TV series “Dream of Splendor,” allowing one to quietly enjoy the simple pleasures of seclusion behind the hustle and bustle of a popular tourist spot. As its name suggests—Silent Tea Gathering • Song Style Tea House—it is a century-old Bai ethnic residence that encloses a courtyard filled with tranquil delights.
Wild Grasses Spread Far and Wide, Heavy with Dew
By Sun Wen / Photographs Provided by the Interviewee
If Sanfang Qixiang is the cultural calling card