By Xinyi Li, iChongqing
The Chongqing Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea National Forest Park is a national 4A-rated scenic spot. It is located in the administrative region of Chashan Zhuhai Sub-district Office at the north of Yongchuan District, Chongqing.
The magnificent viewings of Chashan Zhuhai
In addition, the main attractions include three large tea gardens, six bamboo seas, and other main tourist attractions. They are Guishan Tea Garden, Green Dragon Tea Garden, and Da Shanping Tea Garden. The Fan Bay Bamboo Sea, Cloud Bay Bamboo Sea, Large Lanya Bamboo Sea, Rhino Bamboo Sea, and Gold Basin Bamboo Sea are also must-go destinations. Meanwhile, the scenic spots include Zhu De Tea Building, Tianbazi Tomb, Ruins of Tianzi Hall, and Thin Knife Ridge. Chen Zizhuang Art Gallery and the only exterior shooting location of the House of Flying Daggers are also excellent choices. In addition, the Camping Festival, Tea-picking Festival, and Winter Bamboo Shoots Festival have attracted more tourists to participate. These festivals are brand activities of the Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea.
The shooting site for the film, House of Flying Daggers
The garden for the experience of tea-picking
The Tea-Picking Experience Garden of Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea boasts an area of about 666,67 m2. It belongs to the Guishan Tea Garden, one of the three great tea plantations of Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea. In the scenic spot, there is a vast tea garden of 20 km2 and the bamboo sea of 33.33 km2. Therefore, it is called the Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea.
The experience garden for tea-picking
The Jishan Mountain, where the scenic spot is located, is rich in green tea. Among the various tea types, the Yongchuan Fresh Bud is the most famous. It is famous for using fresh leaves as raw materials. It’s also renowned for mellow taste, green leaf, and elegant shape. The annual “Tea-picking Festival” has the tea-picking, tea-making, and tea-tasting activities and the banquet serving tea and bamboo-related delicacies. It is one of the brand activities in the scenic spot, attracting tourists from all over the country.
Zhu De Building
The Zhu De Building is a two-story wood and brick house. Zhu De was the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. In 1963, he listened to the report about tea plantation of this site. Then, Zhu De tasted the tea made with newly-picked tea leaves and repeatedly praised, “This is good”. To memorize Chairman Zhu’s visit to Tea Mountain of Yongchuan, people named the building after him.
A unique street for tea tasting
The old name of the Tea Bamboo Street was “Red Lantern”. It is a commercial street for selling scenic tourism featured commodities that combine catering, accommodation, recreation, entertainment, and shopping. It is always covered by thin mist as if wearing a layer of silk gauze hanging from heaven. Hence it got the name of Tea Bamboo Street. The street-side shops are along the lake. These shops, mainly in Hui Style (featuring storied buildings, multiple courtyards, winding corridors, and upturned eaves), are of primitive simplicity.
The viewing of the street at a distance
Tour routes: Enjoying the Five-angle Star Tea-garden, Zhu De Building, Gold Basin Bamboo Sea and Fan Bay Bamboo Sea along the way; Visiting the only exterior shooting location of the House of Flying Daggers, Zhang Yimou’s martial arts blockbuster; Enjoying the Zhuhai Maze, the largest Maze in Western China, and the Thin Knife Ridge, the highest peak Western Chongqing; After experiencing the charm of boundless bamboo sea, it is advisable to visit the Tea-Picking Experience Garden. Visitors can enjoy the fun of tea-picking, tea-making, and tea-tasting.
Transportation:
By car: Departing from Chongqing or Chengdu, visitors can drive along the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway or Chengdu-Suining-Chongqing Expressway, and then Yongchuan-Tongliang Expressway. After driving off the expressway at the Yongchuan Interchange, you will reach the scenic spot directly by following the navigation.
High-speed rail: Taking Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed trains at the Chongqing Bei (North) Railway Station to Yongchuan East Railway Station. Then, you need to take the scenic spot transfer bus at the Yongchuan Botanical Garden to the scenic spot.
Bus: Departing from Chenjiaping Bus Station, Caiyuanba Bus Station or Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Bus Station to Yongchuan. Then, you need to take the scenic spot transfer bus at the Yongchuan Botanical Garden Bus Transfer Center to the scenic spot.
Flowering period: from April 10 to the end of May
Price: The ticket price of the Yongchuan Tea Mountain and Bamboo Sea is RMB 38.
Recommended food: Tofu Pudding with Tea Fragrance and Braised Ribs with Tea Fragrance
Relevant link:
Chongqing Yongchuan Chashan Zhuhai (Tea Mountain and Bamboo Forest)