A symposium concerning the origins and contemporary value of West Lake Longjing Tea was held on May 9 at Faxi Temple, Shangtianzhu area in Hangzhou, calling more than 50 experts from across China to the stage for in-depth talks on the tea’s heritage and innovative development.

The session comprises subjects from history to traditional craftsmanship and branding, with a particular attention to the pathways through which tea culture helps empower rural revitalization. A new model combining tea production with tourism was proposed for common prosperity in rural areas. They also emphasized the need to protect old tea-processing techniques while to establish a collaborative innovation system involving industry, academia, and research bodies. This would further help the inclusion of West Lake Longjing tea-making skills into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

An officer from the Administration Committee of the West Lake Scenic Area stated that Hangzhou will continue the way and go further in the banner of “Make Tea a National Beverage and Hangzhou a City of Tea.” Efforts shall be made on digital communication with a global prospect. To this end, the city has been endeavoring to bring heritage tea sites to life and create more distinctive tea events - a way of blending traditions with modern life to allow the prosperity of tea and tea culture.