A guest tries to write words on the surface of a cup of tea. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province hosted a tea-themed event at the Yangxian Eco-tourism Resort in Yixing, a county-level city of Wuxi, on May 21, coinciding with International Tea Day.

Fan Weiqun, a renowned practitioner of Yixing's nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage of zisha (purple clay) pottery-making, captivated attendees with insights into the cultural allure of zisha teaware. Additionally, three young tea enthusiasts from Yixing shared their dynamic approaches to advancing the tea industry while embracing modern innovations.

During a Song Dynasty (960-1279) tea-whisking session, Qian Qiaozhi, a director of the Jiangsu Tea Association, led a live demonstration, offering the audience an immersive experience of this ancient tea-making art.

A guest livestreams the event with her mobile phone. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

To broaden the international appeal of Wuxi's tea culture and scenic beauty, an appointment ceremony for international cultural and tourism experience ambassadors was held during the event. Guests from various countries received certificates, officially designating them as global promoters of Wuxi's tea culture and tourism.

Among these ambassadors was a Vietnamese student from Jiangnan University. She said that her mother is involved in the Vietnamese tea industry and has actively promoted Vietnamese tea on international social media platforms. After experiencing Yangxian tea and zisha teaware firsthand, she was captivated by their Jiangnan charm and plans to share her experiences on global social media to help promote Wuxi's hidden gems.

Throughout the event, innovative, all-day themed experiences were designed to reflect the elegant leisure enjoyed by Song Dynasty literati. The event featured three experiential modes: morning tea for health, afternoon tea for leisure, and evening tea for socializing, inviting participants to journey back in time and immerse themselves in the serene and leisurely world depicted in the writings of Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo.