Visitors pick tea leaves at Moxinshan Ecological Tea Garden in Zhoushan. [Photo/Zhoushan Daily]

More than 10 international students and crew members joined a cultural exchange event at Moxinshan Ecological Tea Garden in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on April 10, where they experienced traditional tea picking and processing.

Guided by tea farmers, they learned the standard method of selecting one bud with one leaf and practiced precise hand techniques to avoid damaging the shoots.

Participants spread out across the tea fields, comparing their harvests and asking questions about planting cycles and processing methods. Some recorded the experience, while others interacted closely with the farmers to deepen their understanding of the craft.

After picking enough leaves, the group observed key processing steps, including withering, heating, and shaping. As the fresh leaves were transformed in heated woks, participants described the process as striking and unfamiliar. The freshly made tea was then brewed on-site, allowing visitors to appreciate its clear color and mild flavor.

In the afternoon, the group toured rural and cultural sites in Daidong town, including agricultural areas and the Wenfeng Bookstore, gaining deeper insight into local development and the integration of coastal tourism.