Misty Tanyang Village (Photo by Zheng Haidong)
Tanyang Village, a picturesque hamlet nestled beneath Mount Baiyun in Fuan City, has gained international acclaim due to the creation of a particular type of Black Tea. From the successful trial production of black Tea during the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty to being named Tanyang Gongfu in the first year of the Xianfeng era (1851), Tanyang prospered due to the thriving tea trade and also experienced periods of decline.
Since the reform and opening up, Tanyang Village has undergone a vivid revival in the tea industry and poverty alleviation, with the story of “Four Visits to Tanyang” becoming widely known and inspiring. In this new era, the people of Tanyang are writing a legendary chapter of rural revitalization using their unique tea.
Today, the name Tanyang transcends the fragrance and beauty of its tea; it represents not only the spirit of the Tanyang people in overcoming poverty but also a sense of nostalgia. The green mountains remain eternal, and the clear waters flow forever; once you've tasted Tanyang Gongfu tea, the memory lingers even after you leave.
The Former Residence of Tanyang Tea Merchants
Tanyang Gongfu Tea (Photo by Chen Wenyan)
01
The Timeless Memories of an Ancient Tea Village
At the entrance to Tanyang Village stands a majestic watchtower, with the words “China · Tanyang” engraved on its walls. On the square, there is a massive Teapot and five antique Teacups inscribed with “Tanyang Gongfu” set beside the Guihua Stream.
Time flows, casting our minds back a century. Back then, Tanyang Village was renowned worldwide for Tanyang Gongfu tea. Overseas Chinese needed only to write “China · Tanyang” on an envelope, and no matter where they were, the letter would arrive accurately at this land.
The Memory Lingers After Drinking Tanyang Gongfu Tea (Photo by Yang Wei)
Across the clear stream, the Zhenwu Covered Bridge, weathered by the elements, comes into view. It spans the water with an imposing elegance, resembling a phoenix about to take flight. The couplet on the bridge, “One of the Ten Scenic Views of Tanyang, a Barrier; Wu Emperor's Bridge Spanning Two Counties,” tells of its antiquity and legend.
The Zhenwu Covered Bridge, built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, features a shrine dedicated to the Great Emperor Zhenwu to protect against floods and is also a place for villagers to pray. During the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, Shi Guangling, one of the founders of Tanyang Gongfu tea, led the reconstruction of this bridge. In the past, it was an important passage from Fuan to Shouning, and Tanyang Gongfu tea was transported via the waterway under the bridge to Europe, allowing the world to taste its unique flavor.
Two large stones catch the eye near the bridge; one bears the inscription “Birthplace of Tanyang Gongfu” written by Mr. Zhang Tianfu, while the other bears the phrase “Tanyang Gongfu Black Tea Tops the World” penned by Luo Shaojun. These two stones, like the soul of Tanyang Village, have become a symbol of its glorious history.
Zhenwu Covered Bridge in Tanyang Village (From the Photo Library of “Tea Way”)
Standing on the bridge, one can take in the full beauty of Tanyang Village. The tranquil ancient village has shed its former hustle and bustle, yet the winding, deep, and long ancient paths and the old residences with blue bricks and dark tiles tell the stories of this place's extraordinary past.
In his “Records of Tanyang Village,” Guo Pingye of the Qing dynasty praised Tanyang Village: “Arriving at Tanyang, surrounded by four mountains, with a river flowing through, the sound of chickens and dogs can be heard, the market is bustling. The tea produced here is both beautiful and abundant, with the style of Wuyi, hence it is called Little Wuyi by foreigners.” Walking around the tea mountains surrounding Tanyang Village, the tea gardens stretch undulating, lush even in winter. Tanyang Village's glory lies not only in its history of black tea trade but also in the fact that it gave rise to a group of influential Fujianese tea merchants such as Shi Guangling, Hu Dasheng, Wu Buyun, Shi Chang, and Hu Zhaojiang.
Tea Shops on the Old Street (Photo by Chen Wenyan)
Strolling down the old street of Tanyang Village, there are more than a dozen tea shops lining the road, occasionally interrupted by small trucks loaded with tea passing by. All of this evokes memories of the bustling tea market of yesteryear. In the side alleys, moss covers the stone-paved roads, and one can casually come across some old residences in the Qing architectural style. These old residences stand closely together, tranquil and secluded under towering trees. Although time has left its mark on them, the traces of their former prosperity are still discernible.
At this moment, light rain begins to fall. In this pristine and ancient village, one feels as if wandering through Dai Wangshu's “Rainy Lane,” poetic and charming.
“Rainy Lane” of Tanyang Village (Photo by Chen Wenyan)
02
Ancient Architecture Revitalized with Centuries-Old Glory
Today, Tanyang Village preserves over twenty historical buildings that bear witness to its past, including the former residences of Tanyang tea merchants. These are treasures of traditional villages and places where Tanyang culture is passed down.
An Aerial View of the Ancient Tanyang Village (From the Photo Library of “Tea Way”)
In Fuan, the history of tea cultivation and production dates back to the Tang Dynasty. By the Song Dynasty, Fuan had become one of the main tea-producing counties in Fujian, and the tea industry had already taken shape during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Before the advent of Tanyang Gongfu, Tanyang Village primarily produced dried green tea. Early tea merchants in Tanyang included the Hu, Shi, Wang, Wu, and Guo families. At that time, they made “Guixiang Tea” using osmanthus flowers from Mount Guixiang within the village, which was transported by water to Guangzhou and