Dagude Tea Garden of Wuliang Mountain in Nanjian County, Dali

Dagude Tea Garden大古德茶园 in Nanjian County, Dali, is located on the eastern side of Wuliang Mountain at an elevation of approximately 1,700 meters. The name “Dagude” comes from the Dai language, meaning “village at the foot of the mountain ridge.”

Historical Background:

  • Ancient Settlement: Dagude has been inhabited since the time of the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom, over a thousand years ago.
  • Military Presence: During the 23rd year of the Hongwu era (1390) in the Ming Dynasty, the Ming army established a fort in Dagude, which remained occupied for several centuries. Frequent warfare and migrations caused significant population movement in the region.

Tea Cultivation:

  • Tea Tree Age: Due to its unique geographic location and historical factors, Dagude has few ancient tea trees, and those over 400 years old are even rarer.
  • Current Tea Garden: The area now features numerous tea gardens, covering no less than 500 acres, with most tea trees planted after 1965.

Environmental Conditions:

  • Geographical Advantage: The terrain is favorable, with the area surrounded by mountains and a flat central region. The climate is mild, with winters not too cold and summers not too hot, and there is abundant water supply.

Tea Characteristics:

  • Flavor and Aroma: The tea produced in Dagude is known for its strong flavor and long-lasting aroma. The convenience of transportation has led to a high demand and large-scale purchasing of Dagude tea.

Dagude’s tea gardens benefit from its advantageous location and favorable climatic conditions, making it an important area for tea production in Yunnan.