Young contestants try their hand at tea picking in Nanping's tea gardens on Aug 12. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

The 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students began on Aug 10 in Nanping city, located in East China's Fujian province.

On Aug 12, participants explored the local tea gardens nestling in the hills, picking tender shoots with bamboo baskets on their backs. "My first impression of the tea garden is its breathtaking beauty," exclaimed Jan Zwahlen from Switzerland as he skillfully picked the leaves.

Ana Cristina Pallin Figueroa from Peru discovered new surprises among the lush green waves: "I've read about China's diverse teas like Dahongpao, Zhengshan Xiaozhong, Shuixian and various white and black teas. Seeing them all in one place is a visual feast!"

After tea-picking, participants experienced the key processes of withering, leaves shaking and cooling, fixation and rolling in the tea workshop.

The shaking and cooling process particularly interested them. As they alternated between shaking and cooling the leaves, they formed teams and found a rhythm in their movements.

"Shaking the leaves is labor-intensive, but the fun lies in our cooperation. The collision of green leaves mirrors our interactions," said LAYLO NIZAMKHODJAEVA from Uzbekistan with a smile.

The small tea leaf evoked a range of emotions among the participants.

E I PYAE PYAE PHYO from Myanmar was reminded of home, confiding: "My grandmother is skilled in tea-making. Learning from her, I found baking the most challenging due to the difficulty of mastering the heat. I'm eager to learn about advanced baking temperature control techniques in Chinese tea factories!"

Harmony in diversity, sharing beauty together. The delicate aroma of Chinese tea is widely said to have enriched the world. The ancient tea tradition lives on, as every hand that holds a cup continues to write a new chapter in cultural exchanges.