Mengding Mountain

China is known for its tea, which comes straight from Mengding Mountain. Considered the birthplace of the world's tea culture, as well as being home to the earliest plantations, Mengding Mountain is located on the Tibetan Plateau in northwest Sichuan Province. 
More than 2,000 years ago, Wu Lizhen, "the ancestor of tea planting" began to plant domesticated wild tea in the area due to its suitable altitude, soil and climate. The tea from this region, Mengshan tea, has been regarded as a magic bullet for curing diseases and has garnered the appellation, "Holy Tea.” Because of its unique flavor and favorable characteristics, great poets from the Tang, Song, Ming and Qang dynasties wrote verses describing the virtues of the tea; thus, the Mengshan tea culture was formed. Also of interest in the area are the Tiangai Temple, the Imperial Tea Garden, the Celestial Ladder and the Tea History Museum.

Practical Info

Mengding Mountain is located 62.1 miles (100 km) from Chengdu and 9.3 miles (15 km) from Ya'an. Buses are available at Chengdu New South Gate Bus Station and run to Mengshan County about 75 miles (120 km) away. The route connects Mengshan County and Mengding's cement road, where buses and motor trikes are available.