茶路 · Tea Path
Sìchuān · 四川省
Growing region · Mengding Mountain · Emei Mountain · Chuan Hong · Zang Cha

Sìchuān

四川省 · Sìchuān

Mengding Mountain stands in the mist for two thousand years

蒙顶甘露

Sichuan — 'The World's First Tea Mountain' Mengding Shan (2000+ years), sacred UNESCO Emei Shan, Chuan Hong red tea, and Tibetan brick tea. From ancient shrines through Buddhist mountains and Muchuan purple tea to Chengdu tea houses, where drinking tea is a way of life.

Teas of this area

Мэндин Ганьлу 蒙顶甘露

'Sweet Dew' — one of the most ancient green teas. Mengding Huangya — a rare yellow tea. The Tea Temple — the place where monk Wu Lizhen planted the first bushes.

Цзанча 藏茶

Tibetan brick tea — produced in Ya'an for Tibet. A 1000-year tradition of the Chamagudao (茶马古道). Long fermentation, charcoal drying. Earthy, sweet, thick.

Чуаньхун 川红工夫

The great red tea of Sichuan from Yibin. Junlian (筠连) — 'The Homeland of Chuan Hong'. Early harvest — February!

Эмэй Чжусэ Цин 竹叶青

'Bamboo Leaf' — premium green tea from Emei Shan, 800–1500 m. Creamy, delicate.

Route by days

  1. Дни 1–2

    Яань · Мэндиншань 雅安·蒙顶山

    Ganlu · Huangya · Zang Cha

    Mengding Shan (蒙顶山, Mingshan) — 'The World's First Tea Mountain', 2000+ years. Ganlu and Huangya. The Tea Temple of monk Wu Lizhen. Zang Cha: factory — pressing, long fermentation. Tasting: young vs aged — earthy, sweet.

    Mountain lodge on Mengding — a tea mountain in the mist

  2. День 3

    Эмэйшань · Лэшань 峨眉山·乐山

    UNESCO Buddhist Mountain

    Emei Shan — one of the 4 sacred mountains of Buddhism, UNESCO. Zhuse Qing (竹叶青) — premium green tea, 800–1500 m. Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛) — 71-m statue, UNESCO. Muchuan (沐川) — 'The Homeland of Purple Tea' (紫茶).

    Emei Shan monastery guesthouse

  3. Дни 4–5

    Ибинь 宜宾市

    Chuan Hong · Early Tea

    Yibin — 'The City of Early Tea' (中国早茶之乡), first harvest in February. Chuan Hong Gongfu (川红工夫). Junlian (筠连) — factory tour. Confluence of three rivers — the beginning of the Yangtze.

    Yibin Hotel

  4. День 6

    Ванцан · Гуанъюань 旺苍·广元

    Huangcha Micangshan

    Huangcha Guangyuan — yellow tea, a natural mutation with a golden leaf. Micangshan (米仓山) — the northernmost region of Sichuan, 1000+ m. Nanjiang — selenium-rich tea.

    Wangcang mountain lodge

  5. День 7

    Чэнду 成都

    Tea Houses · Pandas

    Chengdu tea houses — the culture of 'drinking tea and loafing around' (泡茶馆). People's Park — dozens of tables under bamboo, gaiwan for 15 ¥. Panda center. Hot pot (火锅). Final tasting.

Planning

Transport
Arrival at Chengdu (TFU/CTU). Minibus + trains. ~1600 km.
Climate
Basin: humid, 20–32°C. Mountains: 10–22°C. Mist — the hallmark.
What to bring
Trekking shoes (Emei Shan!), raincoat, strong stomach (maladous!).
Buying tea
Mengding: from 300 ¥/jin. Zang Cha: from 50 ¥/piece. Chuan Hong: at Yibin factories.