Rushan Boosts Agri-Tourism Integration Through Tea

WEIHAI, China, May 15, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

In spring, the 1,200-mu Weiming Organic Tea Garden in Nanhuang Town, Rushan City, boasts verdant terraces filled with intoxicating aromas. While advancing tea cultivation, Rushan is actively driving industrial transformation by leveraging tea as a medium to promote tea culture. By integrating tourism with tea production, the city is accelerating the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism.

At Weiming Tea Garden, farmers seize the spring harvest to pluck tender buds. In processing workshops, fresh leaves undergo over a dozen meticulous steps, including withering, fixation, and aroma enhancement, to evolve into fragrant, mellow Rushan green tea. “We produce green tea, black tea, and Xuejing white tea across seasons, yielding nearly 70 jin (35 kilograms) of dried tea per mu with a dual success in both quality and output,” said He Limei, chairwoman of Weihai Weiming Tea Co., Ltd. Backed by rigorous quality control and online + offline sales, Rushan green tea has transcended its regional roots to become a nationally trusted premium product.

Beyond production, the tea garden doubles as a leisure destination. During the May Day holiday, visitors flocked to experience tea-picking and processing firsthand. “Harvesting and tasting my own tea feels incredibly meaningful!” exclaimed one tourist. Embracing a scenic-area mindset, Weiming Tea Garden has infused tea culture into immersive tourism offerings – from photography excursions and eco-wellness retreats to tea-themed culinary experiences – crafting a full-chain cultural tourism model where a single leaf embodies nature’s beauty and cultural resonance.

In recent years, Rushan green tea has built a multi-dimensional “online + offline” promotional channel. Offline initiatives like tea culture festivals and photography contests create immersive cultural settings, while online livestream sales and digital campaigns bring the tea to households nationwide. This multi-dimensional approach not only elevates brand recognition but also positions tea gardens as a “golden name card” for rural revitalization, boosting local incomes.

Moving forward, Rushan will deepen its agri-cultural-tourism synergy through green tea to unlock greater economic and social value. By injecting sustained vitality into rural revitalization, Rushan green tea aims to expand its reach to become a dynamic force driving regional economic growth and cultural prosperity.

Source: Information Office of Rushan Municipal People’s Government