In the spring of 2025, UNESCO headquarters welcomed a special guest – Zhang Guijing, the representative inheritor of Dian Hong tea production technology and director of the Supply Chain Specialized Committee of Dian Hong Tea Industry Alliance. He brought with him the tea-making techniques inherited for a hundred years and the aroma of tea from Lincang, Yunnan Province, China, to show the world the unique charm of Dian Hong tea.
In 2022, the Dian Hong tea production technology was inscribed on the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO, becoming another milestone for Chinese tea culture to go global. The invitation of Zhang Guijing to UNESCO headquarters is not only an affirmation of the Dian Hong tea production technology, but also a recognition of China’s intangible cultural heritage protection work.
At the event, Mr. Zhang Guijing introduced in detail to Ambassador Yang Xinyu, Permanent Representative of China to UNESCO, the non-heritage production techniques of Dian Hong tea, from tea picking, withering, kneading, fermentation to drying, each step of which is characterized by the wisdom and craftsmanship of generations of tea makers. He also introduced the hometown of Dian Hong tea – Lincang, Yunnan Province, a land that has nurtured high-quality tea, a unique natural environment and a long history of tea culture.
Zhang Guijing’s explanation and demonstration made the guests feel as if they were in the tea plantation in Lincang, feeling the fragrance of Dian Hong tea. They have said that Dian Hong tea is not only a drink, but also a culture, a bridge between China and the world.
The Dian Hong tea into the UNESCO headquarters, not only enhance the international reputation of Dian Hong tea, but also for the protection and inheritance of China’s intangible cultural heritage to provide a new way of thinking. It is believed that in the future, there will be more Chinese intangible cultural heritage projects to the world, to show the world the profoundness of Chinese culture.
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Located in the southwestern part of Yunnan Province, Lincang City is a multi-ethnic area with a rich intangible cultural heritage. These intangible cultural heritage projects carry the long history and diverse culture of Lincang, and are the crystallization of the wisdom of the local people.
01 Bowl Kiln Pottery Production Technique
Introduction
Bowl kiln pottery making skill is listed in the third batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage list of Yunnan Province, which is circulated in Bowl kiln village and other places in Lincang City.
Characteristics
Adopting the traditional dragon kiln firing technology, the pottery is simple and generous in shape, with a warm glaze color like jade, and has high artistic value and practical value.
Cultural value
Bowl kiln pottery production technology embodies the ceramic cultural characteristics of the Lincang area, and is of great value to the study of local history, culture and craftsmanship.
02 Traditional Production Technique of Dian Hong Tea
Introduction
Yunnan black tea production technology is included in the fourth national list of representative items of intangible cultural heritage, the birthplace of the project is Fengqing County, the capital of black tea.
Characteristics
Adopting fresh leaves of large-leaf tea trees as raw materials, made through withering, kneading, fermentation, drying and other processes, it has the characteristics of dark color and lustre, rich aroma and mellow taste.
Cultural Value
The Dian Hong tea production technique contains a rich and profound tea culture, is one of the important black tea production techniques in China, and is of great significance in promoting the development of the local tea industry.
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Protection and Development of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Lincang City attaches great importance to the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, and actively promotes the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage projects through the formulation of protection plans, the establishment of inheritance mechanisms, and the intensification of publicity and other measures. At the same time, Lincang City is also actively exploring the integration and development of intangible cultural heritage projects with tourism, industry and other fields, injecting new vitality into local economic and social development. The intangible cultural heritage of Lincang City is rich and colorful, with deep cultural heritage and important historical value. Through a series of protection measures and development initiatives, the local community has actively promoted the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage programs, making a positive contribution to the promotion of outstanding traditional Chinese culture and economic and social development.