Page 17 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (115)

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CITY LIFE | 城事

of Jingmai Mountain, Xian Jin, a Dai ethnic post-2000s recognition. He has since composed multiple songs about the distant chime of caravan bells. Led by knowledgeable
woman dressed in traditional attire, livestreams from her Jingmai Mountain, set up his own recording studio to pre- guides, they learn to identify companion plants and grasp
phone: “Look, this tea tree is centuries old. When we pick serve Bulang folk music, and even taught himself program- the deep importance of preserving biodiversity. Today,
the buds, we gently pinch and lift; this preserves the tea’s ming to develop mini-apps for promoting local tea. “Through Jingmai Mountain is more than a scenic destination; it is a
fragrance…” On screen, she moves through tea groves tea as a medium and friendship as a bridge,” Ai Guo is help- living museum, touchable, feelable, and full of lessons to
shaded by towering trees, explaining picking techniques and ing the stories of Jingmai Mountain travel farther than ever absorb.
sharing stories of tea history, drawing a growing audience of on digital wings. This cultural vibrancy radiates throughout the villages.
online viewers. More and more young people like Xian Jin At the Bulang Yuni Inn in Wengwa Ancient Community,
are returning home to take part in the tea and e-commerce Mangjing Village, bougainvillea blossoms in vibrant colors
sectors, using the internet to share Jingmai Mountain’s tea Sustaining the pulse of a as guests relax on the lawn, sipping tea and gazing at the
products and culture across the country. millennia-old legacy drifting clouds. By offering immersive activities such as
“Since its successful World Heritage inscription, Jingmai tea picking and hands-on processing, the inn has become a
Mountain has gained many young loyal followers,” ex- 让千年文脉生生不息 highly sought-after destination. Homestay No. 75 in Wengji
plained Xia Jinwei, Technical Department Manager of Pu’er Ancient Village, renovated from a traditional stilted house,
Lancang Ancient Tea Co., Ltd. “This ancient tea forest, cul- The successful World Heritage inscription has ignited reflects a broader trend observed by its owner, Shai Kan-
tivated for millennia through the ecological wisdom of un- both an industrial spark and a cultural flame on Jingmai ming: visitors are increasingly shifting from brief visits to
derstory tea planting, has risen from the valleys of Yunnan Mountain. Here, a millennia-old legacy is continuously nur- meaningful stays. “They come not just for a cup of tea,”
to the world stage, and with it, our products are now em- tured through living traditions, enriching and deepening the Shai noted, “but to truly read the millennia-old story of har-
bracing a new era of innovation.” Drawing on the extensive heritage with each passing generation. mony between people and this land.” Distinctive homestays,
ancient tea forests and leveraging core techniques such as Su Guowen, 83, a representative inheritor of Yunnan’s tea houses, and cultural study bases are now flourishing,
“micro-blending” and “pile fermentation,” the company has provincial intangible cultural heritage “Pu’er Tea Ancestor weaving together ancient tea traditions, rainforest ecosys-
successfully tapped into the youth market with innovative Worship Customs,” believes that understanding Jingmai tems, and ethnic heritage. This transformation is turning
offerings like “Tea Mom” and “Yan Leng.” Mountain means grasping three relationships: “harmony Jingmai Mountain from a day-trip stop into a profound, liv-
“Jingmai Mountain has the potential to become even among people, millennia of wisdom between humans and ing tea-culture experience.
more renowned,” said Ai Guo, a young member of the nature, and the spiritual connection between people and The spark lit by the World Heritage inscription continues
Bulang ethnic group. In the nearly two years since its in- tea.” The traditions he works to preserve, such as tea ances- to burn brightly in the hearts of Jingmai Mountain’s youth.
scription, the mountain’s pastoral cultural charm, whether tor ceremonies and tea spirit platforms, along with Bulang More and more young locals are transforming from tradi-
experienced in person or shared online, continues to draw ethnic practices like sour tea making and community feasts tional tea farmers into brand ambassadors and cultural sto-
sustained and growing attention. such as the “hundred-family meal,” have become living rytellers. Through new channels and fresh connections, they
On September 17, 2023, as a villager representative for vessels of cultural heritage. Through hands-on participation, are building a vibrant dialogue between Jingmai Mountain
Jingmai Mountain’s World Heritage bid, Ai Guo witnessed they enable visitors to deeply experience the cultural vitality and the world.
th
its historic inscription at the 45 UNESCO World Heritage of Jingmai Mountain. Earlier this year, 29-year-old Liu Haokun—grandson of
Committee session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Seeing repre- The rise of immersive cultural tours has made the moun- Su Guowen—left his job in the county town and returned
sentatives from other countries moved to tears over unsuc- tain’s millennia-old heritage tangible and accessible. Guided to Jingmai Mountain. He began by learning tea roasting and
cessful nominations, I truly realized the profound value of by senior Bulang tea masters, visitors experience firsthand processing, then immersed himself in local dialects, cus-
World Heritage status,” recalled Ai Guo. the stages of fixing and rolling tea leaves, witnessing the toms, and ritual traditions. At the same time, he compiled a
Having personally witnessed the inscription in Riyadh, transformative journey of a single leaf. Walking along guide to Jingmai Mountain’s heritage for young locals, aim-
Ai Guo profoundly understands the weight of this global vestiges of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, they seem to hear ing to enrich the cultural content of the area’s study tours.