Jingmai Mountain has become intertwined with us.
Time and again, we have made the journey up the Forest-lined cobblestone path, delving deep into the mountain's fabric. We have counted the towering green trees of Dapingzhang that reach towards the sky, contemplated beneath the Bee God Tree, stood in solemn silence before the golden pagoda bathed in morning light, and felt a profound sense of awe as we pondered its ancient history.
Ai Wen, Ai Ken, Yan Kan… familiar names and vivid faces are imprinted on our hearts. Every person we met on our trips through the tea mountains presented us with a new facet of this place.
We welcomed many sunrises amidst the misty clouds from the terraces of their modern homestays, which seamlessly blend living spaces. And we listened to the simple stories, little known to outsiders but shared openly with us, told with heartfelt sincerity.
Over time, this tea mountain has moved from being a picturesque rural Landscape to a place of refuge within our hearts. Bit by bit, these experiences have resonated like echoes, much like those heard in an echo chamber, responding to the glittering lights of the city. This is the bond that the editors of Puer Magazine have formed with this mountain over the past 18 years. Through eleven tea mountain tours, we have led tea enthusiasts from all corners of the country four times through these ancient tea forests, strolled along the cobblestone streets of Wengji Ancient Village, and savored the scenery and breeze under the eaves of homes in Nuogang.
We can easily find our way at the crossroads in the mountains, as if entering our own home. On September 17, 2023, Jingmai Mountain's long journey for World Heritage recognition finally came to a perfect conclusion. Once again, like attending a family celebration, the editorial team joined the local residents to witness this historic moment. Throughout our journey, we carried thoughts of retrospection and anticipation for the future.
Passing through the “time tunnel,” the faces of the people we met years ago remain as sincere as they were back then, as if it were yesterday. A series of celebratory events took place from Mangjing to Jingmai Village, where lanterns were lit, bonfires glowed alongside the sunset, and songs danced with the colorful clouds. We rejoiced once more with old friends, documenting their stories of leaving the city to make tea in the mountains. It was a grand reunion for the mountain and small reunions for individual families. Many people from afar have chosen to settle here permanently, making a living and establishing their homes.
The mountain has tea, wine, and stories, all real and tangible, evoking warmth and emotion.
I may have shared too many sentimental words. In this issue, our exclusive focus is on the process of creating the nomination document, tracing the thirteen-year journey for World Heritage status, and reiterating Jingmai Mountain's global value. We also commemorate the stories of companies that have devoted themselves to this mountain.
As recorders and witnesses of this tea mountain, while our experiences may be personal, our records can become the memory of a mountain, or even a group or generation of people.
All that has passed is now prologue. As recorders, we delve into Jingmai Mountain's deep historical roots, our writing meanders through the folds of the vast mountains, focusing on the present while looking to the future.
A new chapter unfolds with the successful World Heritage listing, which may signal the end of one phase of recording. However, the bonds formed over the years with tea farmers and newcomers to Jingmai are like grains solidified by time, embedded in the curtain of memory. Even a gentle breeze or a whiff of tea fragrance can easily unfurl them, immersing us in memories.
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