In the North of Fujian province, lies this picturesque region of Wuyishan (Wuyi Mountain). hina's famous poets and painters have flocked to this place in the past to enjoy local tea and get inspired by the beauty of its mountain ranges and nature. Today Wuyishan is a mekka for tea enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Wuyishan it was the first place where black tea is invented. In our post The Origin of Black Tea, you can learn how black tea was discovered and how it became popular worldwide. Today, the Wuyi tea region is even more famous for its oolong teas, which are also known as 'yan cha' (rock tea) due to their mineral notes.

 The Flavor of the Rocks

Below a picture we took during our visit at one of our farmers tea gardens. You can see that the garden is surrounded by rocky hills, which contribute to the special flavour of the tea. It's these unique soil conditions are not possibly to copy anywhere else in the world.

This region is really all about growing tea, which is further supported by the famous saying: '10 strange things in Wuyishan'. In fact, the top 3 of this list are unsurpringsly all related to tea. We'll discuss this in detail in the next section.

 10 'Strange' Things About Wuyishan

Wuyishan (Wuyi Mountain) is a popular destination of nature and tea enthousiasts in the world. If you travel with a local tour guide, he/she will definitely tell you these 10 things that are 'strange' about Wuyishan. While the word 'strange' is a direct translation from the Chinese sentence '武夷山十大怪‘, you should just understand it as 'unique'. See the infographic below for the full list!

One of our favorite street food in Wuyishan are 'tea eggs'. These eggs are simmered together with tea and other spices. See below:

The region is characterized formations of large fault structures due to past volcanic activity. Thousands of years of natural erosion has resulted in a picturesque landscape characterized by winding rivers, cliffs and caves. The red-colored soil is exceptionally fertile, which is beneficial to the magnificent taste of the tea from this area. Geology is of such importance that oolong teas from this region (yancha) are classified based on growing location.

Wuyishan has many kinds of tea cultivars, which grow strong leaves that can handle the intensive processing for oolong teas.

 UNESCO World Heritage

According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organization), Wuyishan is a magnificent region with a biodiversity of flora and fauna with picturesque scenery of Nine Bend River. When it comes to teal, the site of historical importance as there is evidence of tea cultivation for the imperial family in the 11th to 16th century. Hence the region is added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1999.

In 2021, the Chinese government added Wuyishan to the list of natural parks with a priority to preserve animal diversity.

 Wuyishan Tours: When to Visit

While the weather really matters when you travel, you really don't want to miss the main attraction: tea cultivation. If you're a tea enthusiast, then visit Wuyishan between March and July each year. To be even more specific: if you love black tea, you should visit in March. The tea production of Wu Yi oolong tea starts later, and the ideal month to visit is May if you want to see the plucking. However, if you would like to buy some fresh yancha, then visit in June or July. Keep in mind that the average expected rainfall in June is not favorable.

No matter when you visit, many tea tours are available year round. There are also also English tea tours available, offered at the airport and in every single hotel. If you would like to learn about Wuyi mountain tea, you could inform for trainings & tasting sessions as well as demonstrations.

If your main goals is to taste, learn and source tea. Then contact us. We know English speaking local guides, drivers who can show you around wuyishan and connect you with tea farmers.