茶路 · Tea Path
Húnán · 湖南省
Growing region · Anhua Heicha · Junshan Yinzhen · Guzhang

Húnán

湖南省 · Húnán

In the darkness of the brick, golden flowers bloom

黑茶金花

Hunan is the birthplace of Anhua heicha with 'golden flowers' and the yellow tea Junshan Yinzhen from an island in Lake Dongting. Route: the ancient Anhua tea trail → Junshan Island → Shimen eco-gardens → Miao and Tujia mountain villages in Xiangxi. Anhua brick tea reveals itself after 5–10 years of ageing.

Teas of this area

Аньхуа хэйча 安化黑茶

Dark tea with 'golden flowers' (金花, Eurotium cristatum) — a beneficial fungus. Forms: Fuzhuan (茯砖), Heizhuan, Huajuan. The ancient 'Tea Road of 10,000 li' to Mongolia.

Цзюньшань Иньчжэнь 君山银针

One of the 10 great teas. Yellow tea (黄茶) — the rarest category. Menhuang technique (闷黄) — 'braising in yellow'. Honey-sweet, 'dancing needles'.

Золотой чай Баоцзин 保靖黄金茶

A rare yellow-leaf cultivar. Natural mutation — elevated amino acid content. Extremely limited production.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Аньхуа 安化县·益阳

    Heicha · Golden Flowers

    Anhua — the historic capital of dark tea. Golden flowers (金花) are a beneficial fungus inside Fuzhuan. Factory: pressing, fungus cultivation. An ancient stone caravan trail. Tasting: 1 / 5 / 10+ years. Zishui River (资水) — the water transport route.

    Farmhouse stay — atmosphere of the ancient tea trail

  2. День 3

    Юэян · Цзюньшань 岳阳·君山岛

    Yinzhen · Yellow Tea

    Junshan Island (君山岛) — a tiny island in the vast Dongting. Junshan Yinzhen — one of the 10 great teas, a yellow tea. Menhuang (闷黄). Honey-sweet, devoid of bitterness. 'Vertically dancing needles'. Yueyang Tower (岳阳楼) — one of the 'Three Great Towers'.

    Yueyang hotel — view of Dongting Lake

  3. День 4

    Шимэнь 石门县

    Yinfeng · Eco-Gardens

    Shimen Yinfeng — ecological green tea from the Hupingshan belt (壶瓶山). Comparison: yellow Junshan vs green Shimen — subtle distinctions.

    Shimen mountain lodge

  4. День 5

    Гучжан 古丈县·湘西

    Maojian · The Miao People

    Guzhang — a mountainous county, a 'little tea paradise'. Delicate green Maojian. Miao and Tujia villages. Plantations at 600–1200 m — clouds, waterfalls. One of the most scenic districts.

    Miao ethnic guesthouse

  5. День 6

    Баоцзин 保靖县

    Golden Tea

    'Golden Tea' (黄金茶) — a rare yellow-leaf cultivar rich in amino acids. Jishou (吉首) — the Dehang canyon bridge. Final tasting: Guzhang vs Baojing vs Jishou.

    Baojing mountain lodge

  6. День 7

    Чанша 长沙

    Finale

    Final tasting. Hunanese cuisine — among the spiciest. Fenghuang (凤凰) — ancient town nearby (optional).

Planning

Transport
Fly into Changsha (CSX). Minibus + trains. ~1400 km.
Climate
Subtropical, 18–32°C. Xiangxi mountains: 14–25°C. Humidity.
What to bring
Comfortable footwear, rain jacket, robust stomach for spicy food.
Buying tea
Anhua: bricks from 100 CNY/piece. Junshan Yinzhen: rare, expensive. Guzhang: affordable.