STORY: Liubao tea: from ancient tea-boat waterway to booming modern trade
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 12, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:19
LOCATION: WUZHOU, China
CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of cityscape in Wuzhou, south China's Guangxi
2. various of tea plantation in Wuzhou
3. STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
4. file of Liubao tea transportation
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): JIANG ZHAOHUI, Manager of a Liubao tea manufacturing company in Wuzhou, Guangxi
6. various of tea products
7. STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
8. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SHI RUFEI, Inheritor of Liubao tea-making technique in Wuzhou
9. various of production of Liubao tea
10. various of tea leave-picking and tea export
11. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LU YANG, Liubao tea distributor
12. various of tea products
13. various of tea leave-picking and tea export

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"Wuzhou, with a long history, is a city deeply ingrained in tea culture. Liubao tea produced in this mountainous region is one of China's famous black teas. And a waterway was the best choice for Liubao tea to go outside."

High-quality Liubao tea was transported in the late 19th century to southeast Asia and other parts of the world.

The whole route for tea trade earned the name Chachuangudao, literally meaning the ancient tea-boat waterway.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): JIANG ZHAOHUI, Manager of a Liubao tea manufacturing company in Wuzhou, Guangxi
"The climate in Guangdong and Guangxi is relatively humid and hot. In the past, many Chinese laborers from this region sailed to southeast Asia and found it even more humid and hot there. When they drank this tea, it helped them adapt to the local environment. Therefore, Liubao tea was then popular among Chinese laborers overseas. Liubao tea has moderate functions, which may cause less burden to stomach and intestines, so it has a wide range of consumers."

STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"With a history of more than 1,500 years, Liubao tea has also developed its own unique processing techniques."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SHI RUFEI, Inheritor of Liubao tea-making technique in Wuzhou
"I think the making process of Liubao tea is very different from other teas. We have to knead the tea leaves repeatedly. Another special step is that it requires the fermentation of stacked tea leaves. Therefore, I think the making technique of Liubao tea is very unique."

Today, Wuzhou's Liubao tea industry is gaining momentum in both production and sales, creating more than 83,000 jobs.

The output of Liubao tea has increased from 17,000 tonnes in 2019 to 35,000 tonnes in 2023, with a comprehensive annual output value of more than 20 billion yuan (about 2.76 billion USD).

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LU YANG, Liubao tea distributor
"I have been selling Liubao tea for about 15 years. And now the sales are getting better and better. One reason is its exceptional quality. And another is that the brand's consumption concept aligns with the needs of the public."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wuzhou, China.
(XHTV)