Changshan county in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, is using smart cultivation, processing, and research to develop its tea-oil camellia industry, whose industrial chain has reached an output value of 2.16 billion yuan ($321.63 million).

At the province's first smart tea-oil camellia seedling base in Changshan, a 4,000-square-meter greenhouse uses sensors to monitor light, temperature, and humidity around the clock using IoT (Internet of Things) technology. The base covers more than 20 hectares and can produce 5 million seedlings annually.

Local grower Wang Shihua has improved the yield and quality of his plantations through more than a decade of careful management, providing regular employment to more than 100 farming households.

Tea-oil camellia trees bear fruit. [Photo/Tide News]

Changshan Dongcha Tea Industry Technology uses water-cooled, low-temperature cold-pressing equipment to produce camellia oil, with two of its core products winning international awards at an agricultural expo in 2025. The company has also established an overseas sales website to reach international consumers directly.

Changshan and Zhejiang University established a joint research center in 2023, focusing on components including squalene, vitamin E, and tea saponin, and developing more than 20 products spanning health, cosmetics, and biological preparations.

The county continues to promote the development of the tea-oil camellia industry by offering harvesting experiences and study tours while promoting its products through in-person exhibitions and livestream e-commerce.