China Part XIII - Tea Plantation and Farewell to Southern China

Tea Plantation near Yao Mount outside Guilin, China.

We started of with at bus ride to the plantation. We rode past typical businesses and homes.

Out in the rural countryside as we neared the plantation we saw grave sites on the steep mountain slopes.

They are dug into the side of the mountains like little mausoleums.

Finally we arrived at the plantation. We were greeted by a young man who has a PHD in Tea.

We were issued our hats for working in the hundreds of acres of fields of the plantation purported to be one of the largest in the world. What a fashion statement! I've always looked soooo very good in a hat.

He then led us into the tea fields and explained how the tea is grown and harvested. He explained how all teas, white, green and black come from the same plant. The only difference being when the leaves are picked. For someone who never drinks tea it was all new to me.

After which we were left to explore the fields an take photos.

Bob found a colorful beetle.

Once we had learned all there was to know about tea farming (not!) we were directed toward the factory to learn how tea is processed.

Here again our young expert and his assistant taught how the tea leaves are dried and prepared for the consumer.

Next we climbed the stairs to a room to experience a Chinese Tea Ceremony.

Inside the room we were seated on little stools behind rough hand hewn tables that lined three sides of the room in a 'U' shape.

At the opposite end of the room sat our host at a table draped with traditional Chinese print fabric. There were also large tapestries hanging behind him for a backdrop.

He then commenced his tea ceremony preparing several different teas which were passed around for us to sample. Most of those he prepared, he said, were caffeine free.
As shown in the video clip below, he pours the tea making a long stream as he raised his pouring hand high, this he said was not to show how steady his hand is but to add oxygen to the tea, enhancing its flavor and nutritional benefits.

After the 'tea-boy' had piddled all over the floor we crossed a catwalk to the Tea Factory's Store.

Here there were all kinds of exotic teas for sale as well as tea paraphernalia, tea cups, china and teapots

Not only exotic teas...but exotic teapots as well!
I told Dan 'Dan the Matag Man' Dodge at the time when he stuck his hand in my picture that it was going on the internet.

Well, after that it was time to leave.

As we approached the bus there was a stooped old woman who wanted to collect our plastic water bottles for recycling and/or accept any spare change we might be able to spare. She was also very parched and needed something to drink. Such a sweet little face. One of God's children fallen on hard times. We were traveling with a great group of people who responded generously.

Upon leaving we came upon another tourist bus with which we needed to share the narrow road. Definitely not made for two-way traffic. Our bus drivers were very good at their jobs. We were able to pass carefully and continue on our way. This was not the first nor would it be the last time the drivers needed to use their skills to squeeze in or out of tight spots.

We continued on back into Guilin proper and the daily scenes of the hustle and bustle of the city.

We passed by the massive Guilin Department Store and right next door the Guilin Walmart! We wondered...do they sell 'Made in USA' at there Walmart or is everything there also 'Made in China'.

We drove by McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

There were lots of modern and attractive buildings (this one I think was China Mobile) but nothing like we would later see in Beijing.

As we got deeper and deeper into the center of the city the traffic was pretty heavy with lots of bikes, motorcycles, three wheeled vehicles, trucks, buses and foot traffic all competing for space. Many times it seemed the stop signs and traffic lights were merely suggestions. Certainly the lanes painted on the asphalt were not taken very seriously.

We made our final stop in Guilin at the twin pagodas in the heart of the city. Situated on the shores of the beautifully landscaped Banyan Lake.

The pagodas are a beautiful example of traditional Chinese architecture. Pagodas always have an uneven number of stories we were told.

The Sun and Moon Pagodas are located on Banyan Lake in Guilin. The taller of the two the Sun pagoda, at nine stories high, is the tallest copper pagoda in the world. The moon pagoda stands seven stories high. There is a wonderful walk along the lake's edge which is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Banyan Lake is named for the large banyan trees on it's shore. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, Banyan Lake (Rong Hu) and Fir Lake (Shan Hu) were part of the city moat, the mote remnants subsequently became a lake within the city.

The two lakes together are often referred to as Round Lake. A zigzag bridge leads to the mid-lake Isle, which is dotted with long corridors, waterside pavilions and ancient buildings. They are an oasis of calm in the center of Guilin.

Guilin is one of China's most beautiful cities with a history covering more than 2000 years. It is home to 12 ethnic nationalities with a total population of 630,000 (4.79 million overall covering an area of 27,809 km²). It is situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China on the west bank of the Li River. Guilin means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", derived from the abundant, fragrant, Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Guilin's reputation as one of the world's most beautiful places on earth was established over hundreds of years, it ranks second on China's list of its 10 best tourist destinations. The Chinese say its scenery is the "finest under heaven".

It was founded in the Qin Dynasty in 314 B.C. as a small settlement, it prospered in the Tang and Song dynasties as a county. The city has been the political, economic and cultural center of Guangxi since the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Canals were built through the city so that food supplies could be directly transported from the food-productive Yangtze plain to the farthest southwestern point of the empire. The city became the provincial capital under the Ming Dynasty, and remained so until 1914.

In 1940, the city acquired its present name. In 1981, this ancient city was listed by the State Council as one of four cities (the other three being Beijing, Suzhou and Hangzhou) where historical and cultural heritage, as well as natural scenery, should be protected as a priority project.

Since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, Guilin now produces: pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, silk, perfume, herbal medicine and many other items. It administers 17 county-level divisions, 5 city districts, 10 counties and 2 autonomous counties.

Guilin is an important cultural city with many ethnic minorities like Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, and Dong, which enrich the city's cultural life. Each minority has its own unique customs and festivals and they are much more abundant here than in any other part of China.

Guilin cuisine is a combination of Cantonese and Hunanese dishes and well-known for its spicy taste, especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, Guilin Lajiao Jiàng that is used widely in cooking by locals, is made of fresh chili, garlic and fermented Soya beans. Guilin Rice Noodle, Guilin Mifen has been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and is renowned for its delicate taste. Stir-firing and steaming are the most common cooking methods of Guilin Cuisine. Wild plants and animals of which are probably rarely eaten in the West , including dog and cat, are sometimes found in Guilin Cuisine. Another local specialty is noodles with horse meat but this dish can also be ordered without the horse meat.

Finally it was now time to head to the Guilin Liangjiang International Airport about 30 kilometers west of the city to catch our flight to Xi'an.

We would soon have to say good-bye to our guide Steven,

whom we had grown very fond of. He was very kind, thoughtful and attentive to 'Grandma' for which we will be ever grateful to him, and also good-bye to the beautiful south China scenery.

Just for a quick review.
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Below is a video I found on the net made by a Guilin native who wanted to share his hometown and its beauty with the world. Beautiful photos set to traditional Chinese music.

Here we are at the airport sad to be leaving Guilin but filled with anticipation of what lay ahead for us in central China.

Next:
Central China, Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors.