A bird'-eye view of a tea plantation in Fenkou town. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

As spring temperatures rise, tea plantations in Fenkou town of Chun'an county, Hangzhou, have entered the early harvest season, with hundreds of farmers busy picking the prized Wuniuzao tea.

The lush hillsides are filled with the fragrance of fresh leaves as tea growers seize favorable weather to gather the season's first buds.

At a tea farm in Maojia village, terraced tea fields stretch across the mountains, where more than 110 pickers work diligently to harvest tender single buds. Known for its early sprouting, the Wuniuzao variety features plump, vibrant green shoots and commands premium market prices. Daily fresh leaf output is expected to reach between 250 and 300 kilograms.

Many workers are experienced seasonal pickers. Some, with over two decades of experience, can collect more than 1.5 kg of buds per day, earning upwards of 200 yuan ($29) in daily wages. The 26-plus-acre base cultivates 13 high-quality tea varieties, including Longjing 43, benefiting from Qiandao Lake's unique microclimate and refined cultivation practices that combine organic and precision fertilization. As a result, its tea leaves fetch prices more than 40 percent higher than similar products.

In recent years, Fenkou town has prioritized the tea industry as a pillar of rural vitalization, supporting 18 tea enterprises and increasing incomes for over 1,000 farmers. In 2025, the town's tea production reached 289.8 metric tons, generating an output value exceeding 51.5 million yuan.

An experienced picker inspects tea leaves. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]