Key tea-producing townships in Fuding City

　　Fuding City in Fujian Province has a total of 17 townships, and nearly every one of them produces tea. But what exactly are the unique characteristics of the tea grown in each township? And which township grows the finest-quality tea?

　　Bailin Town: According to the "Fuding County Local Gazetteer—Fifteen Dous Division," published in 1906: "Bailin’s tea industry flourished exceptionally, attracting merchants from both China and abroad. Its premium white-tip tea was renowned across the five continents, drawing traders from far and wide and transforming the town into a bustling market hub." During the mid-Qing Dynasty, Bailin Town thrived as a key trading center due to its strategic location and convenient transportation links—accessible by both waterways and land routes. This made it a magnet for Fujianese and Guangdongese tea merchants, solidifying its status as a major distribution point for tea at the time. It was also here that Bailin Gongfu black tea first originated. After the founding of New China, the Bailin Branch of Fuding State-owned Tea Factory became nationally recognized as a premier producer of white tea. In 1968, Wang Yisen at the Bailin Branch pioneered an innovative new method for processing white tea, and the factory subsequently took on the critical responsibility of exporting all domestically produced white tea. However, with the liberalization of the tea market, Bailin’s traditional tea-processing facilities gradually gave way to basalt stone quarries. Despite this shift, Bailin has long remained a vital tea-producing region. Equally significant is the unique soil quality of the area, particularly in regions like Cuijiao, Tangyuan, Lingtouping, Niuchengxia, and Cheyang, which are especially conducive to tea cultivation. As a result, the teas crafted here consistently boast exceptional quality and flavor.

　　Diantou Town: The "China Tea Variety Records" ranks "Fuding Dabai Tea" and "Fuding Dahao Tea" as the first and second among 77 nationally approved tea varieties, respectively. It notes: "Origin and Distribution of Fuding Dabai Tea: Originating from Bailiu Village, Diantou Town, Fuding City, this variety has been cultivated for over 100 years. As for Fuding Dahao Tea, it originates from Wangjiayang Village in Diantou Town, Fuding City, with a cultivation history spanning nearly a century." Today, Diantou Town has become a major hub for Fuding white tea trading, attracting numerous key tea enterprises to establish themselves there. Our company’s factory is conveniently located in Mayang Village, Diantou Town. Meanwhile, Mei Xiangjing, the national-level inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage—Fuding White Tea Production Techniques—is based right in Bailiu Village. Diantou Town borders Bailin Town, and many neighboring villages share close ties; for instance, Bailiu Village is adjacent to Cuijiao, while villages like Guo Jian, Wengxi, Dapeng, and Juzhou are considered the true birthplaces of Fuding Dabai Tea and Fuding Dahao Tea. In this region, tea farmers typically specialize in crafting high-quality white tea.

　　Poxi Town: The largest township by area in Fuding City, Poxi boasts a forest coverage rate of 95%, with an average elevation ranging from 500 to 800 meters. Thanks to its higher altitude, the town enjoys temperatures that are 2–4°C cooler than lower-elevation areas. Bordered to the east by Mount Taibao and to the south by Bailin Town, Poxi is a quintessential eco-friendly township. Tea leaves harvested from villages like Hulin, Nangguang, Houping, Xianpu, Chixi, and Huanggang have long been favored by numerous tea companies—especially Huanggang Village, where the National Tea Industry Conference was held as early as 1959.

　　Taimu Mountain Town: Originally named Qinyu Town, it is home to Mount Taimu, which boasts an average elevation of 600 meters. The mountain is perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of swirling mists and vibrant hues. Temperatures here are 2–5°C cooler than at lower elevations. To the east, Taimu Mountain Town faces the sea, while to the west, the continuous Taimu Mountain Range stretches along the borders with Panxi and Bailin. Surrounded by towering peaks and lush forests, the area enjoys exceptionally high forest coverage—and its soil is perfectly suited for tea cultivation. Notably, the tea gardens within the core scenic zone are primarily managed by the historic Taimu Mountain Monastery.

　　GuanYang Town: Adjacent to DiTou Town, this town sits at an average altitude of over 500 meters, resulting in a climate significantly different from lower-altitude regions. As a result, tea leaves grow more slowly and bud later, but the final product boasts exceptional quality. Similarly situated in terms of terrain and climate are Guanling and DieShi Towns in Fuding—both areas where tea remains the primary agricultural product cultivated by local farmers.

　　Dianxia Town: A renowned agricultural hub in Fuding, often hailed as the "Granary of Fuding." The town is also home to tea grown in its higher-altitude mountain regions, producing tea of exceptional quality and excellence.

　　It’s also worth mentioning China’s Top 10 Beautiful Islands—Yushan Island, which belongs to Yushan Town. The island is home to several hundred acres of tea gardens, where the tea plants thrive thanks to the fresh water nourishing them from the nearby Da Tian and Xiao Tian Lakes. As a result, the tea produced here boasts excellent quality.

　　Fuding has few plains but plenty of mountainous terrain. The hardworking people of Fuding have skillfully harnessed the land’s natural contours to cultivate tea on the hillsides, resulting in the region’s impressive 210,000-mu tea gardens. In several mountainous and coastal townships—such as Qianqi, Jiayang, and Xiamen—farmers rely on tea cultivation and harvesting as their primary source of income. For Fuding farmers, tea has truly become a "little bank" right in their own homes.