Modern techniques brew new success for old tea farm in Tibet

Yigong tea plantation, the highest in the world with an altitude of around 2,200 meters, welcomes its picking season from late May to early July.

Located in Nyingchi city in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, the 60-year-old tea farm got a new facelift in recent years, as managers introduced modern agricultural techniques in planting, processing and sales.

Huang Hualin, a senior agronomist of the Tea Research Institute at Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, was assigned to Tibet two years ago, along with the ninth batch of partner-assistance teams between the two regions.

"When I first came here, the plantation was not operated well, as it covered a small area with poor yields and quality of tea," Huang said.

Although favorable temperature and rich rainfall in Yigong valley created an ideal environment to nurture good tea, local farmers' out-of-date management skills hindered further development of the business.