Approach the tea artist

　　Captured at 2:00 PM on June 9 at the internship classroom of Fuding Vocational Secondary School.

　　Six months ago, tea artist Jiang Jingjing was hired by Fangming Tea Industry Company. Early on the morning of June 9, she carefully dressed up in her company-provided single dormitory room, ready to start her shift.

　　On June 9, Xie Jia'an, a senior tea artist from Fuding City, once again visited the community to freely share her expertise in tea ceremony performances with residents.

　　Twelve years ago in June, Fuding City, Fujian Province, formed its first amateur tea art performance team. One of the founders, Xie Jia'an, a teacher at Fuding Vocational Secondary School, recalls that back then, the team’s performances consisted merely of a few tea-making and pouring movements the girls had learned from video tutorials—far from meeting any professional standards. He vividly remembers how, eager to appear as "professional" as possible, they combined learning with experimentation, traveling one after another to places like Hangzhou, Jinan, Fuzhou, and Xinyang to seek guidance and refine their skills under the tutelage of master artisans.

　　Twelve years later, in June, tea art performances have become an indispensable and vibrant feature of Fuding City—gracing its streets, alleys, teahouses, and even dining tables. He noted that over the past 12 years, more than 1,000 people from Fuding City alone have earned the national-standard qualification certificate for tea masters through vocational schools. Today, these graduates are already making their mark in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Moreover, tea artists selected by Fuding City have gone on to win prestigious accolades, including the Grand Performance Award at the Second International Tea Ceremony Expo and the title of "China White Tea Fairy" at the Shanghai World Expo.

　　Today in Fuding City, being a tea artist has become a popular choice for young people seeking employment.

　　Fuding Tea Artist Elected "White Tea Fairy"

　　During the Shanghai World Expo, Weng Wenwen, a senior tea artist from Fuding City born into a family with three generations of tea merchants, was selected as China’s "White Tea Fairy." As the national tea culture representative at the United Nations Pavilion of the Expo, she took part in receptions involving heads of state and a series of tea culture-related activities. Using her proficient English, she introduced Chinese tea culture and the health benefits of white tea to international friends. Her outstanding performance was highly praised by people from around the world, and the United Nations Pavilion awarded her a certificate of commendation.

　　Weng Wenwen currently serves as the Executive Vice Principal of Fuding Sunshine Education Center. She holds national-level tea appraiser and senior tea artist certifications, and is proficient in playing various traditional Chinese musical instruments. She has previously earned accolades such as China's Healthy Miss title, the Gold Award at the Dandelion Metropolitan English Skills Competition, the title of "Fuding White Tea Fairy," and the Gold Award at the China Expo White Tea Fairy Competition.

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　　A tea artist is a dedicated professional technician in the tea industry, possessing comprehensive skills that include expert knowledge of tea, as well as proficiency in tea ceremony performances, service, and management. Tea artists also have a deep appreciation and understanding of the spiritual essence of tea culture.

　　Chinese tea art emerged over 1,200 years ago. During the Tang Dynasty, Lu Yu's "The Classic of Tea" summarized the experiences of previous generations in tea drinking and provided a systematic exposition of tea art.

　　In 1999, China's Ministry of Labor officially included "Tea Artisan" as one of the 1,800 professions listed in the *Classification of Occupations of the People's Republic of China*. In March 2001, the *National Standard for Tea Artisans* and the corresponding *Tea Artisan Training Manual* were introduced.

　　Currently, China's mid-to-high-level tea art professionals are "highly sought after" in the market. Major tea companies, teahouses, and international hotels view having certified tea artists as a crucial factor for their businesses' further growth. Professionals who undergo specialized training in tea artistry often earn consumers' trust, directly boosting corporate profitability.

　　Twelve years ago, Xie Jia'an, one of the founders of Fuding City's Tea Art Performance Team, is now a senior tea artist. On June 9, he once again took time off on the weekend to visit the community, freely sharing his expertise in tea art performance with residents.

　　The tea artists performing here possess a profound understanding of China’s rich and time-honored cultural heritage—its innovative tea traditions, tea ceremonies, tea songs, tea poetry, and even tea-inspired dances. Immersing oneself in this serene setting while savoring tea can inspire one’s temperament and refine the soul, all through the delicate interplay of tea’s aroma, color, flavor, and lingering essence. (Photo taken at 7:00 p.m. on June 9)

　　Ma Shuxia, a 78-year-old resident of Fuding, enjoys a happy three-generation household. She has been passionate about collecting tea-related items for the past 20 years. On the afternoon of June 9, her children gathered around her to savor tea together. "Every day," she shared, "what makes me happiest is watching my grandchildren perform the art of tea-making."

　　On June 9, in a community-based free library in Fuding City, several residents enjoyed leisurely moments while indulging in complimentary tea service provided by a professional tea artist.

　　Tea artist Zhou Limei was just hired by the company half a month ago. She says, "Working as a tea artist has broadened my horizons, allowed me to experience elegance, and filled me with joy. I’ll keep striving to improve myself and refine my skills." (Photo taken at 5:00 PM on June 9)

　　At the internship site of the vocational secondary school, students dressed in traditional ethnic attire practiced the graceful movements and demeanor of future tea masters, capturing the essence of their upcoming professional performance. (Photo taken at 1:00 PM on June 9.)