The Chinese yearning for natural landscapes is inscribed in our very genes.
When climbing mountains, one expresses emotions through them; when seeing water, sentiments are felt within it. Since ancient times, countless literati and poets have poured their true feelings into the vast expanse of nature. Every blade of grass, every Tree, every cliff, and every ravine in Wuyi Mountain reveals its beauty in the leisurely flow of wild streams and the grandeur of bell sounds at great heights, standing out in the southeast of China.
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WUYI MOUNTAIN
Jade peaks and emerald covers, blue waters and vermilion mountains
Transformed by wind and rain into jade bones, they defy ordinary interpretations.
In his fifties, Lu You, serving as the vice magistrate of Jian'ning Prefecture in northern Fujian, was captivated by the wonders of Wuyi Mountain. Here, he brewed tea, enjoyed it, composed poetry, and wrote magnificent verses such as “A Tour of Wuyi Mountain.”
The Wuyi Mountains, stretching for thousands of miles, are a significant feature in southeastern China. With hundreds of peaks over 1,000 meters high, Wuyi Mountain stands tall, its main peak Huanggang Mountain reaching 2,160.8 meters, rivaling the Five Great Mountains, and known as the “Roof of East China.” It is the geographical highest point in the southeastern part of mainland China.
“Vermilion cliffs frame the bright moon, and splendid stars emerge from the clouds.” The term “vermilion” in Vermilion Sandstone Formation has a romantic and poetic origin. If you've seen the vermilion crests and red-tipped peaks of Wuyi Mountain shrouded in mist, you can read the magnificent poem written by nature itself.
The “thirty-six peaks and ninety-nine cliffs” of Wuyi Mountain are made up of red sandstone and conglomerate, forming the most complete, distinctive, and well-preserved Vermilion Sandstone Formation in China.
Billions of years ago, the inland lake basin where Wuyi Mountain is located formed red rock layers due to sedimentation and oxidation. Over time, the basin rose to become a mountain, and after millions of years of erosion by water, weathering, and collapse, it created the diverse Vermilion Sandstone Formations of Wuyi Mountain.
The Vermilion Sandstone Formations of Wuyi Mountain are not just “the finest in Southeast China,” but also much more. This is a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site and one of the first national parks in China. It preserves the most complete, typical, and extensive subtropical virgin forest ecosystem at its latitude, encompassing all types of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and rock-dwelling vegetation communities found in China.
The intact forest ecosystem nurtures a diverse range of life. Statistics show that there are 2,799 species of wild higher plants, 558 species of wild vertebrates, and 6,849 species of insects here, earning it the titles of “Kingdom of Snakes,” “World of Insects,” and “Paradise of Birds.”
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WUYI MOUNTAIN
Tea fragrance amidst the mountains and waters
Mentioning Wuyi Mountain, one cannot avoid talking about its tea.
This is the birthplace of black tea and oolong tea, often referred to as “one Wuyi Mountain contains half the history of tea.” When tea leaves are steeped, water added, and the infusion poured, the essence of the mountain spreads across the palate upon contact with the tongue.
In his work “Production, Manufacturing, and Distribution of Wuyi Mountain Tea,” renowned tea scholar Lin Fiquan wrote: “The entire Wuyi Mountain is made up of rocky mountains, with cliffs and sheer walls forming deep gorges and large valleys, creating a relatively complex terrain. From the perspective of tea cultivation, it truly offers an ideal environment…”
The typical Vermilion Sandstone Formation of Wuyi Mountain not only enchants tourists but also creates unique tea aromas. The mountain is high and the valleys deep, with mist swirling around. The abundant diffused light is very conducive to the growth of tea plants, promoting the synthesis of amino acids and caffeine in the leaves and highlighting the aromatic compounds within the tea.
“The earth is the origin of all things, the root and source of all living beings.” The soil in Wuyi Mountain is mainly gravelly loam and decomposed rock, with good structure and high gravel content, which is beneficial for the synthesis and conversion of amino acids in tea leaves. The pH value of the soil ranges between 4.5 and 5.5, leading to high chlorophyll content in the leaves, strong photosynthesis, and a greater accumulation of organic substances.
The thirty-six peaks, seventy-two caves, and ninety-nine cliffs, along with scattered boulders, deep valleys, and steep cliffs, form microclimates suitable for the growth of tea plants. As a result, the tea plants growing freely in various places acquire distinct “mountain field characteristics.” Nourished by the natural elements among the rocks and gravel, the tea plants give birth to a unique “rocky bone and floral aroma.”
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WUYI MOUNTAIN
Tea competition and the king of teas
The immortal hermit left a stone Stove, right in the middle of the water. After drinking, the Boat departs, leaving behind a faint scent of tea smoke.
Tea became popular during the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. Countless literati and scholars tasted tea and composed poetry, gradually turning tea-drinking into a refined pursuit of “clear wind and bright moon.” “Tea competition” was the most popular tea-related activity at the time, and traces of it can still be found in today's Wuyi Mountain.
The tradition of “tea competition” dates back to the Tang Dynasty in Jian'an. At that time, the focus of the competition was on the “newness” of the tea, comparing the freshness and color differences caused by the timing of tea leaf picking. By the Song Dynasty, tea competitions had become widespread, and Emperor Huizong described them as “a refined pastime of prosperous times” in the preface to his book “Da Guan Tea Treatise.”