Bouyei purple tea festival kicks off in Guizhou

Local Bouyei people hold a tea-picking competition during the festival. [Photo provided to  eguizhou.gov.cn]

Wangmo county, hailed as the "hometown of purple tea" in Southwest China's Guizhou province, unveiled its third Purple Tea Festival on March 28 in Jiaona town, as part of the Sanyuesan Festival.

This extravaganza drew nearly 10,000 attendees, including locals, tea merchants, and tourists, to celebrate the crop, which is central to local rural vitalization efforts. With 86,000 ancient tea trees gracing its hills, including three over 1,000 years old (one aged 1,700), Jiaona's purple tea industry has become a lifeline for the locals.

The festival pulsed with energy as visitors explored folk dances, handicraft stalls, and photography exhibits. Tea enthusiasts gathered at brewing stations, savoring the earthy richness of purple leaves, while the aroma of local delicacies like herb-infused rice cakes drifted from a winding long-table feast.

As dusk fell, the town square was lit up with a bonfire, as visitors joined hands with Bouyei villagers in spirited dances, their laughter echoing beneath starry skies.