Yixing's Yangxian tea and Changxing's Zisun tea go on display. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2025 Yixing-Changxing Tea Tasting Event was held on July 30 at the Yangxian Eco-tourism Resort in Yixing, a county-level city in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, promoting cultural exchanges on tea between Yixing and Changxing county in Huzhou, Zhejiang province.

The event highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Yixing's Yangxian tea and Changxing's Zisun tea, both of which were presented as tribute teas to emperors and royal courts since the Tang Dynasty (618–907). It also revived traditional tea ceremonies and crafts.

During the Tang Dynasty, grand tea tasting events were annually organized by regional governors to oversee the production of tribute teas in the two regions.

At the event, inheritors of traditional tea-making techniques, recognized as intangible cultural heritage, captivated attendees with demonstrations of brewing, whisking, and stir-frying techniques. Attendees experienced the heritage of Chinese tea culture with each sip.

Traditional tea stir-frying techniques are demonstrated at the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tea masters from both regions displayed their unique brewing techniques for Yangxian tea and Zisun tea. Experts and spectators engaged in lively discussions, exploring new approaches in tea craftsmanship.

The event also featured a tea culture exhibition, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in ancient Chinese tea culture.

The two regions plan to make more efforts to protect and promote the culture of tribute teas, promising new vitality for this millennia-old heritage through cooperation in cultural preservation and tea-themed tourism.