A barista carefully makes a cup of latte in Lishui. [Photo/Lishui Daily]

The stylish city of Lishui, in East China's Zhejiang province, is experiencing a surge in coffee quaffing as it promotes the coffee industry – in order to boost drinking of the popular beverage and the living standards of its citizens.

Coffee shops with modish designs are nowadays a common sight in Lishui's streets and lanes. For many locals, enjoying a cup of the brew is becoming a daily routine. 

The number of coffee shops in the city has grown from less than 50 to 450 in just a few years. And the annual per capita consumption has surged from 1.5 cups to more than 20 cups.

Moreover, the highest daily sales volume of a coffee shop in Lishui has reached 700 cups. People can now sample varieties from around the world there.

Lishui's push to develop and support the coffee industry in recent years is part of its wider aim to become a center for coffee bean processing, coffee machine manufacturing and barista training.

The city has trained over 1,000 baristas through local and external programs. More young people have become interested in the industry and pursued their entrepreneurial dreams by selling coffee beans and running coffee shops.