Professor Alan Macfarlane and Fellows of the Royal Society of London Visited Yunnan Dianhong Group for Investigation

On the morning of November 1st, Professor Alan Macfarlane, a Fellow of the British Academy and Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, along with his wife Sarah Harrison and their entourage, visited Yunnan to conduct research on the international development status and issues of the Dianxi tea industry, with a particular focus on Dianhong Group.

Professor Alan Macfarlane is renowned for his comparative studies on the origins and characteristics of the modern world. Over his career spanning more than 30 years, he has conducted extensive field research in countries such as the UK, Nepal, Japan, India, and Myanmar. His works, including “The Glass Bathyscaphe” and “Green Gold: The Empire of Tea,” have been translated into multiple languages and published in dozens of countries.

The visit began with the delegation paying homage to the statue of Feng Shaoqiu, the founder of “Dianhong Tea,” followed by a tour of the historical exhibition hall of Dianhong Group. Housed in a 1950s Soviet-style building, amidst historical artifacts, the delegation immersed themselves in a rich historical ambiance. Professor Macfarlane diligently recorded with his camera, while Harrison took notes attentively, capturing insights from the explanations provided.

Next, they visited the Tea Science Institute of Dianhong Group, where they explored the germplasm resource nursery. They witnessed lush tea gardens in a beautiful and ecologically friendly environment, which greatly excited Professor Macfarlane and his team, providing them a firsthand experience of the organic tea cultivation environment. They also visited the Dianhong tea trial production workshop, gaining detailed insights into the tea production process.

At the new factory area of Dianhong Group, showcasing modern facilities, Professor Macfarlane and his team observed the strides made by the Dianhong people in their journey forward.

In the exhibition room, Professor Macfarlane left a message: “Tea is the most magical and medicinal plant in the world. I am honored to see the development history of Dianhong Group. I wish Dianhong Group all the best!”

The research concluded with a discussion and exchange session between Dianhong Group and Professor Macfarlane’s team. Wang Tianquan, Chairman and President of Dianhong Group, warmly welcomed Professor Macfarlane and his team. Chen Zhenghua, Deputy County Mayor of Fengqing County, briefly introduced the basic situation of Fengqing County. Professor Macfarlane and his team provided valuable suggestions for Dianhong Group’s internationalization efforts.

This visit not only highlighted the significance of Dianhong tea and its cultural heritage but also underscored the importance of international collaboration and academic exchange in promoting the global presence of traditional Chinese teas.

11月1日上午，英国皇家科学院院士、剑桥大学社会人类学系艾伦·麦克法兰教授及其夫人莎拉·哈里森等人一行访问云南，针对滇西茶产业的国际化发展现状与问题开展调研，重点调研了滇红集团。

艾伦·麦克法兰现任英国剑桥大学社会人类学系教授，剑桥大学国王学院终身院士，英国科学院(BritishAcademy)院士，欧洲科学院(AcademiaEuropaea)院士，皇家人类学会名誉副会长及皇家历史学会研究员。麦克法兰长期关注现代世界诸起源及特性之比较研究，在30余年研究生涯之中曾在英国、尼泊尔、日本、印度、缅甸等地从事长期田野调查研究，《玻璃的世界》、《绿色的金子：茶叶帝国》等著作被翻译成多种文字，在几十个国家出版。

麦克法兰教授一行首先瞻仰了“滇红茶”创始人冯绍裘铜像，参观了滇红集团历史展览馆，在五十年代苏式建筑下，在历史实物档案前，他们感受到了浓浓的历史气息，麦克法兰教授拿着摄像机认真记录，哈里森则着拿着笔记本，认真听着解说，感兴趣的部分，赶紧提笔记下。

接着调研了滇红集团茶科院，参观了种质资源圃，看到郁郁葱葱的茶园、环境优美、生态宜人，很是兴奋，让麦克法兰教授一行真正感受到了有机茶的生长环境。还参观了滇红茶试制车间，详细了解了滇红茶的制作工艺。

滇红集团新厂区展示了现代化，麦克法兰教授一行看到了滇红人前进的步伐。

麦克法兰教授在展览室留言：茶叶是这个世界上最神奇、最有药用价值的植物，非常荣幸见到滇红集团的发展历史，祝愿滇红集团一切都好！

调研结束，滇红集团与麦克法兰教授一行进行了座谈交流。滇红集团董事长、总裁王天权对麦克法兰教授一行的到来表示了欢迎，凤庆县人民政府副县长陈正华对凤庆县的基本情况进行简要地介绍。麦克法兰教授一行分别为滇红集团在迈步国际化上提出了宝贵建议。