King of The Tea Tree of Wuliang Mountain in Xiaogude Village of Nanjian County, Dali

Chinese Name: 南涧县无量山镇小古德村茶树王
English Name:King of The Tea Tree in Xiaogude Village in Nanjian County, Dali
Location:南涧县无量山镇小古德村子

King of The Tea in Xiaogude Village is located in Xiaogude Tea Garden of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County.

The “King of Thousand-Year Tea Trees” in Nanjiang

Introduction: The “King of Thousand-Year Tea Trees,” located in Xiaogude Village, Wuliangshan Town, Nanjiang County, Dali, is a historic tea tree with a remarkable age of over 1,200 years. It stands approximately 16 meters tall, with a canopy shaped like an umbrella, lush foliage, and a vigorous appearance. The tree’s branches cover more than 20 square meters, and its base has a circumference of about 2.1 meters, making it a majestic sight.

Tea Industry in Wuliangshan Town:

  • Tea Production: Wuliangshan Town is a key area for tea cultivation, with 30,100 acres of tea gardens and over 10,000 ancient tea trees. The ancient tea trees are primarily concentrated in the areas of Baoping, De’an, Xinzhen, and Gude. Among these, the oldest tree, over 1,200 years old, is honored as the “King of Thousand-Year Tea Trees.” This ancient tea tree, located at an elevation of about 2,100 meters in Wuliangshan, belongs to Gude Village and is renowned for its impressive size and beauty.

Tourism and Cultural Significance:

  • Visitor Experience: Every year, numerous tea enthusiasts visit Gude to admire the “King of Thousand-Year Tea Trees,” participate in tea-picking, tea-making, and tea-tasting activities. The “Thousand-Year Tea King” has become a popular attraction for tea lovers, with the tea garden where it is located becoming a new hotspot for visitors. The tree has become an intangible symbol of Nanjiang’s tea industry.
  • Tea Quality: The tea leaves from the “Thousand-Year Tea King” are hand-picked and processed manually. These leaves are known for their durability, pleasant aftertaste, and rich aroma, making them high-quality ancient tree tea. Typically, this tea can sell for 6,000 to 8,000 yuan per kilogram.

Development and Industry Growth:

  • Tea Industry Expansion: In recent years, Wuliangshan Town has focused on enhancing its role as a “Green Beautiful Tea Area” and a “Demonstration County for Agricultural and Tourism Integration” in Nanjiang County. Leveraging its unique geographical and resource advantages, the town continuously optimizes its 30,100 acres of tea gardens and actively implements protection measures for ancient tea mountains and trees. Through tea garden construction, protection and development of ancient tea trees, and promotion of tea products, the town is extending its tea industry chain and striving to create a distinctive village-based tea product.
  • Infrastructure and Production: Wuliangshan Town has 19 initial tea processing facilities, 13 tea processing enterprises, 3 fine processing plants, and 2 tea trading markets. In 2023, the town’s tea production reached 2,149.65 tons, with a total value of 32,330,860 yuan. Tea has truly become a “wealth-bringing leaf,” contributing significantly to the income of local tea farmers and driving rural revitalization.