Workers pick leaves at a tea plantation in Lishui. [Photo/WeChat account: ls-mnews]

In 2021, the total acreage of the tea planting area in Lishui city – located in East China's Zhejiang province – ranked first in the province, with the output and value both ranking second, local media recently reported.

Its optimal location and environment is said to make Lishui an ideal area for tea planting in China.

In 2021, its area for tea cultivation totaled 40,533 hectares, of which 36,533 ha was in production, with an annual output of 47,000 metric tons, generating 15 billion yuan ($2.36 billion), an increase of 12.7 percent compared with 2020.

According to officials, the local tea industry is in urgent need of transformation and upgrading. They said it needs to focus on upgrading its technology, among other things, to help it contribute to the city's overall rural revitalization.