In 1991, Lin Yunlian, a tea grower from the island of Taiwan, carried precious high mountain oolong tea seeds to the Yunnan Plateau. Three decades later, those seedlings have matured into sprawling tea trees, symbolizing a living bridge between cross-strait agricultural traditions.
Lin’s journey reflects the deep cultural and historical ties that bind tea cultivation practices across the Taiwan Strait. Today, Yunnan’s tea farms – enriched by Taiwan’s expertise in oolong processing – attract global buyers seeking premium leaves, while academics study the shared techniques passed down through generations. For residents of Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, the story underscores a common heritage steeped in the art of tea.
As travelers explore Yunnan’s terraced fields, they witness how this botanical exchange has blossomed into an enduring testament to cross-strait collaboration. “Tea doesn’t recognize borders,” says a local farmer. “It grows where the soil and care unite.”
