茶路 · Tea Path
Guǎngxī · 广西壮族自治区
Growing region · Liubao · Oil Tea · Dong People · Yao

Guǎngxī

广西壮族自治区 · Guǎngxī

Where karst meets mist, liubao is born

六堡茶韵

Guangxi — karst landscapes, the Longsheng rice terraces, and the ethnic culture of the Dong, Yao, and Zhuang. Route: from the cave storages of liubao in Wuzhou through Guilin's karst and the Dong people's rain bridges to the cloud plantations of Lingyun and the Yao relic forests. Liubao heicha is one of the great dark teas, aged in limestone caves for up to 30 years.

Teas of this area

Лиубао хэйча 六堡茶

Dark tea from Liupu (六堡镇). Post-fermented, aged in limestone caves. With age — 'betel aroma' (槟榔香). Forms: baskets, bricks. 3–30+ years.

Масляный чай 油茶

Beverage of the Dong, Miao, Yao peoples. Leaves are fried in oil with ginger and garlic, ground, and infused with boiling water. Served with puffed rice and peanuts. 3 cups — a minimum of courtesy.

Белый чай Линъюнь 凌云白毫茶

Plantations at 800–1500 m amidst clouds. Delicate, floral, with a long sweet aftertaste. Large-leaf cultivar Lingyun Baihao.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Вучжоу · Люпу 梧州·六堡镇

    Liubao Heicha · Cave Storages

    Liu Pu village — the cradle of dark tea with a 1500-year history. Cave storages: humidity 75%, temperature 20°C — ideal for post-fermentation. Tasting: 1 year (herbaceous) → 5 years (nutty) → 10 years (betel) → 20+ years (silky, camphoric). Wuzhou tea market — vintage batches.

    Liu Pu guesthouse — among warehouses and bamboo groves

  2. День 3

    Хэчжоу · Чжаопин 贺州·昭平

    Nanshan Tea Sea

    'Nanshan Tea Sea' (南山茶海) — panoramic terraces on karst hills. Huangyao village (黄姚古镇) — a museum-town of 1000+ years, stone bridges, and banyan trees. Zhaoping green tea — fresh, chestnut. Comparison: Zhaoping green vs aged liubao.

    Huangyao village house — amidst karst peaks

  3. Дни 3–4

    Гуйлинь · Луншэн 桂林·龙脊

    Karst · Rice Terraces · Cruise

    Cruise on the Lijiang (漓江) — 4 hours among karst peaks. 'Dragon's Backbone' rice terraces (龙脊梯田) of the Zhuang and Yao peoples, 650+ years. Ping'an village — an altitude difference of 800 m. Longsheng mountain tea — smoky, with rice straw. Introduction to oil tea (油茶).

    Wooden lodge on the terraces — sunrise over the 'Dragon's Backbone'

  4. Дни 4–5

    Саньцзян 三江侗族自治县

    Dong People · Bridges · Oil Tea

    Rain bridges (风雨桥) — covered wooden bridges without nails. Gulou drum towers (鼓楼). Grand Dong chorus (侗族大歌) — UNESCO polyphony. Masterclass: frying, grinding, infusing oil tea with 7 types of snacks.

    Dong wooden house — to evening choral singing

  5. Дни 5–6

    Байсэ · Линъюнь 百色·凌云

    White Tea · Cloud Plantations

    Lingyun (凌云县) — 800–1500 m, perpetually in clouds. Lingyun Baihaocha — delicate, floral. 10,000+ mu of organic plantations. Tongling Canyon — 168 m waterfall, underground river. Comparison: Lingyun white vs Fuding white.

    Mountain lodge — clouds drift through the window

  6. Дни 6–7

    Цзиньсю 金秀瑶族自治县

    Yao Wild Tea · Relic Forest

    Yao homeland — the Dayaoshan relic forest (大瑶山). Wild trees of 500+ years. Yao medicinal teas (瑶药茶) — blends of dozens of herbs for longevity. 'Yao bathing' ritual (药浴) — herbal baths with 30+ plants. Final tasting of all Guangxi teas.

    Yao ethnic guesthouse — among ancient trees

Planning

Transport
Fly into Nanning (NNG) or Guilin (KWL). Minibus. ~1500–1800 km.
Climate
Subtropical. Plains 22–33°C. Mountains 15–25°C, fog. Raincoat essential.
What to bring
Trekking shoes (terraces!), raincoat, mosquito repellent, camera, cash.
Buying tea
Liubao: from 100 ¥/kg (young) to 3000+ (vintage). Lingyun: from 300 ¥/jin. Oil tea: set 50–100 ¥. Yao teas: 100–300 ¥.