China Tea Market in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang

The China Tea Market (中国茶市), also known as the China Tea Trading Market (中国茶叶交易市场), the former Zhejiang Dongming Tea Wholesale Market(浙江东茗茶批发市场) , is located in Qixing Street (七星街道), Xinchang County (新昌县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), China. It is the largest Longjing tea (龙井茶) trading hub in the country and holds a prominent place in China’s tea industry. The market is also designated as a national agricultural market by the Ministry of Agriculture and has earned several distinctions, including being a key member of the “Double Hundred Market” program by the Ministry of Commerce.

The market is known for its size and scale, with a planned total investment of 600 million RMB. It serves as a major center for the wholesale tea trade and plays a significant role in supporting Zhejiang’s tea culture and industry.

Overview

  • Name: China Tea Market (中国茶市)

  • Location: Qixing Street (七星街道), Xinchang County (新昌县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省)

  • Area: 230 acres (about 202,326 square meters)

  • Total Investment: 600 million RMB

  • Climate: Subtropical monsoon climate

  • Main Business: Wholesale tea, tea accessories, tea culture promotion

  • Key Products: Longjing tea (龙井茶), Huangshan Maofeng (黄山毛峰), and regional specialty teas

  • Nearby Airports: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (杭州萧山国际机场), Xinchang Wanfeng General Airport (新昌万丰通用机场)

  • Nearby Train Stations: Xinchang Station (新昌站), Shengzhou Xinchang Station (嵊州新昌站)

History and Development

The China Tea Market originated from the Zhedong Famous Tea Market (浙东名茶市场) and is now the largest tea trading market in the country, primarily dedicated to Longjing tea (龙井茶). The market’s development has been carried out in three phases, with each phase having specific functions and objectives.

Phase 1

The first phase of development, with an investment of 143 million RMB, opened in March 2008. It covers an area of 48,300 square meters and includes 433 shops, 152 fixed trading positions, a tea museum, a tea culture park, and several services, including banking, logistics, and hotels. The opening of this phase attracted tea merchants from across China and led to rapid trade activity. By the end of 2008, the market had already achieved impressive trade volumes, with a total of 7,455 tons of tea traded and a turnover of 820 million RMB.

Phase 2

Phase two, with an investment of 150 million RMB, added an additional 5,260 square meters of retail space, including 362 shops. This phase introduced major tea brands, as well as tea-related products such as tea machinery, tea packaging, and tea accessories. By 2010, phase two was fully operational and played a crucial role in further elevating the market’s status as a major tea trading center.

Phase 3

Phase three, with a 300 million RMB investment, focuses on creating the China International Tea Auction Market (中国国际茶叶拍卖市场). This phase aims to solidify the market’s role as the leading hub for tea trade in China and establish it as the largest green tea trading market in the country. It also plans to enhance the market’s tourism potential, aiming to become a five-star cultural and commercial hub as well as a AAAA-level tourist attraction within the next 3-5 years.

Market Features

The China Tea Market is a comprehensive tea trading center offering a wide range of tea-related products, including:

  • Longjing tea (龙井茶)

  • Huangshan Maofeng tea (黄山毛峰)

  • Anxi Tieguanyin (安溪铁观音)

  • Various regional specialty teas from across China

In addition to tea, the market also offers:

  • Tea accessories: Teapots, tea cups, tea sets

  • Tea culture promotion: Tea ceremonies, educational programs, and cultural exhibits

  • Tea machinery and packaging products: Equipment for tea processing and packaging

The market is a hub for tea culture, offering tea culture parks, tea museums, and a range of other services that celebrate the rich heritage of Chinese tea.

Trade Statistics

  • 2008: 7,455 tons of tea traded with a turnover of 820 million RMB

  • 2009: 9,016 tons of tea traded, with a turnover of 1.269 billion RMB (growth of 20.94% and 53.66%, respectively)

  • 2010 (half-year): 6,067.76 tons traded with a turnover of 1.288 billion RMB (growth of 15.8% and 29.97%, respectively)

The market has also significantly supported the local tea farming industry, with over 400,000 tea farmers in the region and a total tea garden area of 600,000 acres. Notably, Xinchang County (新昌县) alone has 100,000 acres of pesticide-free tea gardens and 5,000 acres of organic tea gardens.

Seasonal Trade Activity

During peak seasons such as spring tea harvest, the market experiences a significant increase in trade, with daily transactions reaching up to 16,000 kilograms and sales exceeding 30 million RMB.

Future Plans

The China Tea Market aims to become the largest green tea trading market in China, with plans to develop into an international tea trading center. With ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, the market is expected to attract even more global tea buyers, making it a key player in the international tea trade.

Planned Developments

  • Tea leaf auctions and large-scale trading systems

  • Development of the China International Tea Auction Market (中国国际茶叶拍卖市场)

  • Expansion into the largest green tea trading market in China

  • Goal to achieve a five-star professional market and a AAAA-level tourist attraction

The China Tea Market continues to grow as a central pillar of Zhejiang’s tea industry, fostering economic growth and promoting the region’s rich tea culture.