대홍포 풍경구

The Da Hong Pao Scenic Area is one of the key sites within the Mount Wuyi UNESCO World Heritage Site in Fujian province, protecting the place where the legendary da hong pao, the most famous of all Wuyi rock teas, is said to have originated. Set in a narrow valley of red danxia cliffs on the northern side of the Wuyi scenic area, it is both a place of pilgrimage for tea lovers and one of the most atmospheric corners of the range, where the culture of Wuyi tea can be seen growing in its original setting.

The heart of the site is a low cliff face in the Jiulongke, or Nine Dragon Nest, gorge, where a handful of ancient tea bushes cling to the rock high above the path. These are the famous mother trees of da hong pao, the original plants from which the legendary tea takes its name, and they are regarded as a national treasure, with their leaves so prized that the tea they produce is among the most celebrated in China. Standing below the cliff, visitors can make out the gnarled bushes against the rock and appreciate the extraordinary microclimate and mineral-rich soil that give Wuyi rock tea its distinctive character.

The scenic area extends well beyond the famous trees, with a network of paths winding through a steep-sided valley of red sandstone cliffs, tea terraces, and small temples. The walk from the entrance to the mother trees passes many other Wuyi rock-tea plantings, and the air carries the scent of tea leaves and the damp, mineral smell of the danxia rock. The valley is green and shaded, with pools, streams, and quiet corners that make the visit as much a nature walk as a cultural one.

The Da Hong Pao Scenic Area pairs naturally with the China Wuyi Tea Expo Garden and the nearby Nine-Bend Stream, and it gives travelers a tangible sense of the landscape that produces Wuyi rock tea. The walk is gentle and well-marked, suitable for almost all visitors. For anyone interested in Chinese tea, the chance to stand in the valley where da hong pao was born is one of the signature experiences of a Wuyishan trip and an essential complement to the more dramatic peaks and river views elsewhere in the Mount Wuyi World Heritage landscape.