茶路 · Tea Path
Húběi · 湖北省
Growing region · Enshi Yulu · Lichuan Hong · Wudang

Húběi

湖北省 · Húběi

Where mist carries selenium, tea becomes medicine

玉露仙山

Hubei is the birthplace of China's only steam-fixed Yulu tea (precursor to Japanese sencha), the Daoist Wudang Dao Cha from a UNESCO mountain, and Qingzhuan brick tea. Route: Enshi canyons → selenium-rich Lichuan → Wufeng gorges → sacred Wudang → historic Battle of Red Cliffs (208 CE).

Teas of this area

Эньши Юйлу 恩施玉露

‘Jade Dew’ — steam fixation (蒸青) as in Japan. China's only mass-produced ‘steamed’ tea. Emerald colour. Selenium-rich soil.

Личуань Хун 利川红

Red tea from selenium mountains. Honeyed, floral. ‘Cold aftertaste’ — a unique feature. Served at the 2018 state banquet.

Удан Дао Ча 武当道茶

Daoist tea from UNESCO Wudang Mountain. Picked by monks at ritual times. 800–1600 m.

Цинчжуань Ча 青砖茶

Green brick heicha from Chibi. A 1000-year tradition for steppe peoples.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Эньши 恩施州

    Yulu · Steam Fixation

    Enshi — an autonomous prefecture in the mountains of western Hubei. Yulu — steam fixation (蒸青), precursor to Japanese sencha. Emerald, fresh. Selenium-rich soil (富硒). Enshi Grand Canyon (恩施大峡谷) — a dramatic landscape.

    Mountain lodge — canyons and cloud-wreathed peaks

  2. День 3

    Личуань 利川市

    Lichuan Hong

    Red tea — honeyed, floral, ‘cold aftertaste’. Selenium from the soil. Mountains 1200+ m, forests and waterfalls. State banquet 2018.

    Lichuan mountain house

  3. День 4

    Уфэн 五峰

    Maojian · Gorges

    Wufeng Maojian / Caihua Maojian — mountain green tea of the Three Gorges region. Yihong Gongfu (宜红工夫茶) — red tea.

    Wufeng lodge

  4. День 5

    Удан 武当山

    Daoist Tea UNESCO

    Wudang Shan — UNESCO, sacred mountain of Daoism. Birthplace of taijiquan. Monks' tea, picked at ritual times, 800–1600 m. A mystical atmosphere. Green vs red Wudang.

    Daoist guesthouse — monastery silence

  5. День 6

    Чиби 赤壁

    Qingzhuan · Battle

    Qingzhuan Cha — green brick heicha. A 1000-year tradition for steppe peoples. Xian'an — Guihua Cha (osmanthus tea). Site of the Battle of Red Cliffs (208 CE).

    Chibi hotel

  6. День 7

    Ухань 武汉

    Finale

    Final tasting. Reganmian (hot dry noodles) — Wuhan's signature dish.

Planning

Transport
Fly into Wuhan (WUH) or Enshi (ENH). Minibus + domestic flight. ~1500 km.
Climate
18–32°C. Mountains: 12–25°C. Humid.
What to bring
Trekking shoes, raincoat, space for brick tea.
Buying tea
Yulu: from 400 ¥/jin. Lichuan Hong: from 300. Qingzhuan: bricks from 50 ¥.