During Guyu, or Grain Rain solar term, the fragrant aroma of tea fills the air. On April 20, the 2026 "Chinese Tea Ancestor Festival" Memorial Ceremony to Worship Emperor Yan was held in Yanling County. Representatives from the county's tea association and tea farmers, as well as people from all walks of life gathered at Wumen Square to pay tribute to Emperor Yan, the "Ancestor of Chinese Tea," carrying forward the thousand-year-old tea culture.

At 9:39 a.m., the Wumen Gate opened solemnly, marking the official start of the ceremony. All attendees stood in silence as tea offerings and floral arrangements were presented. Participants performed three bows, delivered the memorial oration in honor of Emperor Yan, burned the silk manuscript, and walked around the mausoleum once. The entire ceremony was simple yet solemn, preserving the solemnity of traditional rituals while incorporating elements of modern tea culture. Following the ceremony, a tea tasting event was held at the square. Amidst the wafting aroma of tea, guests gathered to taste Yanling high-mountain tea and discuss the development of the tea industry.

Emperor Yan, also known as Shennong, is revered as the "Ancestor of Chinese Tea." Grain Rain solar term marks a critical period for tea picking and processing. Since 2009, the tea industry has designated the beginning day of Grain Rain as "Chinese Tea Ancestor Festival."

In recent years, Yanling has leveraged the Scenic Area of Yan Emperor's Mausoleum and its superior ecological resources to explore integration of tea and tourism. The county's tea plantation area spans 33,000 mu (2,200 ha.), with primary production areas located at an altitude of over 600 meters. The green and black teas produced here are of excellent quality and have won over 30 awards at international, national, and provincial competitions.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn