Harmonious Garden of China Puer Tea Exhibition Garden in Puer City
Chinese Name:中华普洱茶博览苑-和谐园
English Name: Harmonious Garden of China Puer Tea Exhibition Garden in Puer City
Overview:
The Harmonious Garden, or “和谐园” in Chinese, is a significant site within the China Puer Tea Exhibition Garden. Established as a tribute to the visit of Hu Jintao, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, in May 2006, this garden represents both the spirit of harmony and the high-quality cultivation of Puer tea.
Historical Significance:
During his visit, Hu Jintao expressed his concern for ethnic minority regions and outlined a vision to transform the area into a premier tourist destination. His interaction with local tea farmers and participation in tea picking highlighted his deep connection with the region. In honor of his visit and the impact it had on the local community, the tea garden where he picked tea was carefully maintained and named “Harmonious Garden,” symbolizing the good fortune and harmonious relationship between the tea farmers and the region’s leaders.
Features and Characteristics:
- Location and Tea Cultivation: The Harmonious Garden is situated centrally within the exhibition area and is characterized by its terraced tea fields. The garden focuses on enhancing yield and quality through various pruning techniques. Young tea trees are pruned to shape them, while older trees undergo “platform pruning” (台刈), a method that rejuvenates the crown from the base, promoting vigorous growth and improving the overall quality of the tea.
- Tea Varieties: The garden primarily grows the Yunnan large-leaf tea variety. Compared to medium and small-leaf varieties, Yunnan large-leaf tea boasts higher levels of tea polyphenols and catechins, which are crucial for the tea’s color, aroma, and taste, as well as its health benefits, including anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties.
- Flora and Ecology: The garden also features Yunnan’s unique camphor trees, which provide several benefits:
- Pest Control: The camphor trees emit a distinctive scent when damaged, which repels pests, making them an effective natural pest control measure in organic tea cultivation.
- Shade and Climate Regulation: The camphor trees offer shade, helping to regulate the microclimate within the tea garden and supporting optimal tea plant growth.
- Aesthetic Value: The tall camphor trees add to the visual appeal of the garden, enhancing its landscape and ecological design.
Visitor Information:
- Recommended Visit Duration: 10 minutes
- Latitude and Longitude: Longitude 101°5′54.5532″, Latitude 22°38′54.4272″
- Best Photography Location: Entrance Road Bend
- Best Photography Coordinates: Longitude 101°5′54.0888″, Latitude 22°38′53.8908″
- Photography Tips: The entrance archway of the Harmonious Garden provides a simple yet elegant backdrop for photographs. Capture the harmony between people and nature as you enter the garden, focusing on the integration of the natural landscape with the human element.
The Harmonious Garden is a testament to the cultural and historical significance of Puer tea and offers visitors a glimpse into the harmonious relationship between the region’s natural beauty and its tea cultivation practices.
