Wonkwang Digital University students train in Chinese tea culture

Students from Wonkwang Digital University's Tea Culture Management department immersed themselves in the rich tea heritage of China's Wuyi Mountains during a recent 6-day training program. Twenty-six students, led by professors Shin So-hee and Lee Haeng-cheol, explored the birthplace of Wuyi rock tea, a region recognized by UNESCO for its natural and cultural significance.

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Walking through the mountains in the hot weather, I felt my understanding of tea deepen as I saw and experienced what I had learned in theory. It was a precious experience I will never forget.

The itinerary focused on hands-on experience and academic exchange. Participants visited the iconic Da Hong Pao mother tree and walked through tea fields nestled between cliffs, gaining firsthand insight into the unique environment where Wuyi rock tea thrives. They also explored historical sites like the Imperial Tea Garden from the Yuan Dynasty and the Wuyishan Tea Production Site from the Song Dynasty, tracing the historical evolution of Chinese tea culture.

Beyond historical exploration, the students engaged in practical tea-making workshops and tasting sessions, experiencing varieties like Lapsang Souchong and Jin Jun Mei, the origins of Chinese black tea. A significant part of the program involved academic and cultural exchange with Wuyi University. Professor Shin So-hee and Professor Ye Jianghua, head of Wuyi University's Tea and Food Science department, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster collaboration in tea research, intangible cultural heritage, and student-faculty exchanges.

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Through cultural exchange with Chinese students, I felt that tea connects people beyond borders. It was a meaningful time.

The students' experience culminated in a cultural exchange, with Wuyi University students demonstrating traditional tea ceremonies and Wonkwang students showcasing Korean traditional tea rituals. "Walking through the mountains in the hot weather, I felt my understanding of tea deepen as I saw and experienced what I had learned in theory," shared one student. Professor Shin emphasized the program's importance in providing practical experience and establishing international exchange foundations, vowing to expand such global opportunities for students.

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This training is highly significant as it allowed us to directly experience the history and 현장 (field) of tea culture in the world-renowned tea-producing region of Wuyi Mountains and establish a foundation for international exchange with Chinese tea education institutions.