I am Ritu Raj Poudyal from Nepal, pursuing a PhD in Plant Protection with a focus on apiculture at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. From July 12 to 18, 2025, I had the privilege to join the "Three Down to the Countryside" teams in rural Guizhou Province, China—a memorable experience that deeply enriched my understanding of China's tea culture and rural development.
This journey provided a unique chance to explore China's rich tea traditions and engage in meaningful exchanges among professors, researchers, students, and local farmer-technicians. These interactions fostered collective learning and strengthened professional ties. I look forward to exploring more regions of China to better grasp cultural and agricultural diversity, local livelihoods, technology applications, and the close relationships among scholars, officials, and farmers.
On July 12, I prepared early for the trip and arrived at Fuzhou South Railway Station. Boarding train K478 at 12:18 p.m., I enjoyed a pleasant 25-hour ride to Guiyang with friendly teammates, exchanging ideas, playing cards, and admiring the lush hilly scenery reminiscent of Nepal.
Arriving in Guiyang on July 13, we visited Guizhou University's Cultural Academy and attended a symposium at its College of Tea Science. The dean introduced Guizhou's tea industry and the university's research on tea culture, health benefits, and genetics. The evening ended with a stroll through the city and a barbecue dinner.
On July 14, we traveled by high-speed train and bus to Zheng'an, where the climate was noticeably hotter. We visited the Western China White Tea Trading Market and held discussions with the local Tea Work Team, also meeting the county party secretary. That evening, we enjoyed a guitar cultural performance at Zheng'an Guitar Cultural Square.
July 15 included visits to hillside tea gardens and Wuben Hall, an ancient school in Xinzhou Town. Afterward, we explored the Zheng'an Guitar Museum, learning about guitar craftsmanship and joining a live singing session. Later, we traveled to Brother Hu's hometown, arriving for dinner and an overnight stay.
On July 16, we toured Brother Hu's tea gardens and nearby lake, experiencing local tea production firsthand. After dinner, we rested at the hotel.
The final day, July 17, featured a training session on tea tree cultivation and garden management. Experts, farmers, and village leaders gathered to discuss innovations, health management, and fertilization techniques aimed at boosting farmer incomes and promoting Guizhou tea in domestic and international markets. We then returned to Zunyi City.
During the trip, I observed a class taught by Yin Zhen, a respected educator from Xinzhou Town. His teaching, rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, created a calm and focused learning atmosphere, blending seamlessly with Guizhou's scenic mountains and terraced fields—a vivid embodiment of knowledge and nature in harmony.
