Wuzhou-Guangxi: Heishi (Black Stone)
After leaving Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, our Chinese Tea Alliance team headed to Cangwu County in Wuzhou-Guangxi, arriving at the famous origin of Liubao tea—Heishi (Black Stone) Village.
Upon arriving in Heishi (Black Stone) Village, we were immediately greeted by endless tea-covered hills. Surrounded by mountains with fertile soil and mild climate, this area is naturally ideal for tea cultivation. Despite its stunning beauty, Heishi (Black Stone) Village once suffered from isolation and economic weakness, leaving only elderly residents behind, highlighting the issue of rural depopulation.
In recent years, with the support of the local government and Guangxi Zhuyin Investment Group, Heishi (Black Stone) Village has seized new opportunities for development. We were honored to meet Mr. Yao Baohua, Chairman of Heishi Agricultural Group, who shared how Heishi (Black Stone) Village transformed from a typical small mountain village into a modern agricultural demonstration area integrating tea industry and cultural tourism.
Mr. Yao explained that to revitalize the village, Cangwu County government, along with Zhuyin Group, established Heishi Agricultural Group, actively developing the Liubao Tea Modern Agricultural Industrial Chain Demonstration Base. Within just two years, the village experienced remarkable transformation: 5,000 acres of tea gardens now blanket the hillsides, new wooden walkways and viewing pavilions adorn the slopes, and the ancient tea tree square, along with carefully renovated village houses, creates a picturesque landscape.
Walking along the newly built wooden path, we admired the rolling tea mountains emerging and fading through the mist. Mr. Yao proudly told us that the Heishi Agricultural Base features a modernized traditional production line with an annual capacity of 300 tons of Liubao tea, as well as a Liubao Tea Museum and tea culture experience center. Here, we seemed to travel back in time, listening to the legendary stories of Liubao tea. The museum beautifully blends traditional tea culture with modern technology, highlighting the profound heritage and contemporary vitality of Liubao tea.
What impressed us most was how the project genuinely benefited local tea farmers. Mr. Yao Shun, Deputy General Manager of Heishi Agricultural Group, mentioned that the company buys fresh tea leaves from farmers at prices higher than the market, significantly improving their livelihoods. The group has successfully secured land rights for over 10,000 acres, planted 5,000 acres of tea gardens, built 30 kilometers of industrial roads, and put both the agricultural base and Heishi tea factory into operation. Now, many villagers who had left to find work elsewhere are returning to cultivate tea and start homestay businesses, revitalizing village life.
Chen Jinyao, a villager who spent years working away from home, returned in 2021 to cultivate Liubao tea. His income has since increased by 30%. He remarked, “With the company purchasing our tea, we no longer worry about selling our tea leaves.” Chen’s story is just one example among many villagers who have successfully returned home to rebuild their lives.