Anxi Travel Guide: A Millennium Legend in the Fragrance of Tea Leaves

Nestled in the folds of southern Fujian's landscapes, Anxi resembles an amber gem steeped in time, holding within it the fervor of fire and the delicate charm of tea. Here, millennia-old furnace flames dance with tea aromas, intangible cultural heritage cuisine mingles with ancient architectural splendor, and every inch of land carries the scent of stories.

🔥 The Millennial Symphony of Iron and Tea

• Flames Across the Ages
The iron-smelting furnaces of Qingyang Xiacao once illuminated the Maritime Silk Road of Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan dynasties. The molten iron forged into tools exported to 48 countries, becoming the industrial pulse of the "World Maritime Trade Center of Song-Yuan China." Today, those flames have transformed into the ingenuity of rattan-iron artisans, where vines and wires intertwine in intricate weaves, earning Anxi the title of "World Capital of Rattan-Iron Craftsmanship."

• Tea Aromas Spanning Millennia
With the wisdom of "semi-fermentation," Anxi's people refine green leaves into Tieguanyin tea, renowned for its "Guanyin charm and sacred fragrance." Tea farmers' hands caress the leaves through ten meticulous steps, allowing the tea's aroma to transcend time and space, becoming a living heritage recognized by UNESCO. The 600,000-acre tea plantations sprawl like green stairways through misty clouds, each leaf whispering the symbiotic code of humans and nature.

🍜 Intangible Heritage on the Tip of the Tongue

• Hutou Rice Noodles: Born 470 years ago from clear springs and rice, these noodles are "white as crystal ice, fine as silk threads." Today, they even grace the cabins of Xiamen Airlines, blending intangible heritage flavors with the poetry of the skies.

• Xiangfu Family Banquet: Street-side delights like Hutou chicken rolls, taro buns, and salted bamboo shoot buns each tell tales of migration and resilience. Even Peking University's canteen has fallen for these southern Fujian flavors.

Beyond food, Anxi brings tea feasts to the stage—in the theatrical performance *Tieguanyin*, the lively beats of Gaojia opera blend with graceful tea dances. Tea masters' movements flow like poetry, and Nanyin ballads paint pictures, offering audiences a sip of "visible tea culture."

🏯 Dual Romance of Ancient Architecture and Landscapes

• Anxi Confucian Temple: Its 108 Ruyi brackets hang like spiderwebs, supporting massive beams without a single nail or rivet—so precise even insects revere it. Stone pillars coiled with dragons and vibrant wood carvings make this the pinnacle of Jiangnan architecture and a spiritual homeland for literati.

• Living Amidst Nature: The misty peaks of Fengguan Mountain and the azure waters of Lanxi River sketch poetic vistas. Glass-walled homestays at Yunling Tea Estate bring starlight to tea sessions, while Gaosu homestays in Gande Town let travelers dream amid tea aromas. The ancient mining caves of Qingyang Village turn Song-Yuan furnace flames into living textbooks for study tours.

✨ The Code of Cultural Tourism: From Trendy to Timeless

During the Spring Festival "Dragon Hunt," visitors collect "dragon pearls" among the temple's dragon pillars and tea mountain window carvings, exchanging them for tea gifts—turning check-ins into cultural treasure hunts. Flash mobs of intangible heritage in ancient towns see She ethnic phoenix costumes collide with Tieguanyin tea art. Under the "Three Irons, Three Heritage" IP, tea estates become scenic spots, and tea factories turn into tourist hubs, showcasing the deep fusion of industry, ecology, and culture.

Come to Anxi—unravel a millennium legend in the fragrance of tea leaves. After exploring, unwind at **Jinjiang Inn Select Xiamen Airport Jimei School District Branch**, conveniently near the airport and Jimei School District, for a cozy journey's end.


🍵 In Anxi, even the air carries the fragrance of stories~

Post by JAYLA GROSS | Jul 15, 2025

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