Seeking Jiangnan, Tasting the Fragrance of Tea, Generation Z Singing and Enjoying China's Jiangnan Culture | Seeking Jiaoli Tea House | Youth | Jiangnan

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Generation Z Sings to Enjoy Jiangnan

Hello everyone, I am Hu Jiayi from the School of Journalism and Communication at Shanghai University.

Today, I will take you out of the hustle and bustle of the city and step into the first tea house in the ancient town of Zhujiajiao in Jiangnan, enjoying a comfortable time alone with tea.

Now, let's listen to a work performed by Lu Ping, the chief announcer of Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station, and written by me - "Searching for the Corner, Tasting the Fragrance of Tea, Searching for Jiangnan"

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Road level

Winner of the "Golden Microphone" Award for China Broadcasting Hosting, Broadcasting Director, Chief Announcer of Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station, and Host of the program "Listening to Jiangnan"

Passing through the deep blue stone alley in the dark, the first tea house in Jiangnan, located deep in the North Street, is already brightly lit in the thick night.

The lingering fragrance of tea, intertwined with the short conversations of family members, the shouting of greetings, and the gentle sighs at the entrance of the tea, interweaves into the "bell and chime" sound when everything is quiet. At dawn in the tea house, dozens of elderly tea enthusiasts have become the most vibrant presence in the sleeping ancient town, forming a unique scenic line along the banks of the Dianpu River.

From 3:30 to 8:30, it is a free morning tea time specially opened by the first tea house in Jiangnan for local elderly people aged 60 and above. Tea house owner Jiang Hongwei introduced that after registering at the tea house, the elderly can enter freely in the morning, and tea is provided free of charge by the tea house, without any financial burden on consumption. Nowadays, nearly 400 elderly people have registered at the First Tea House in Jiangnan.

For the ancient town of Zhujiajiao with a long history, there are many tea houses, but most of them are trendy new style tea houses. Classical tea houses like the first tea house in Jiangnan are rare. Pushing open the door of the tea house, a faint aroma of tea immediately lingered around my nose. The carved beams and painted rafters in the teahouse are bright and spacious. The old style Eight Immortals table and long bench are lined up in a row, and the nostalgia is reflected everywhere you look. In the simple and unsophisticated hall dominated by wood color, there are more than ten wooden square tables, which are equipped with bamboo shell thermos bottles, vintage glass cups and wooden tea boxes with fruits, melon seeds and Dim sum. The wall columns are gray and red imitation of Ming and Qing culture bricks, showing the ancient charm of old Shanghai teahouses everywhere.

When it comes to the history of tea houses, in the late Qing Dynasty, this tea house was established, and generations of tea people came here to drink tea. All the decorations seen by guests in the tea house were restored according to the original tradition, but the display method changed slightly. The First Tea House in Jiangnan is located on North Street of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, backed by the Caogang River and adjacent to the Fangsheng Bridge. In 2004, it was announced as a registered immovable cultural relic in Qingpu District. In 2013, Jiang, the shopkeeper from Yunnan, renovated and expanded the Jiangnan First Tea House, which had been closed for more than three years. The first thing he did after returning to business was to restore the unique customs of "Qiansui Morning Tea" and "Pingtan Bookstore" in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.

Nowadays, the renovated century old tea house combines both antique and exquisite characteristics. Most of the time, the first tea house in Jiangnan has transformed into a check-in place for tourists to drink tea and relax. But every morning before dawn, the tea house will shed its usual details that cater to the changes of the times, revealing the unique ancient charm of Jiangnan.

The book "Shennong Bencao Jing" states: "Shennong tasted a hundred herbs and encountered seventy-two poisons a day, which he obtained and resolved." The tradition of drinking tea began with medicinal use and evolved from the ingredients of coarse tea and light rice to the support of scholars' tea tasting teachings, gradually infiltrating the secular world from south to north and from top to bottom. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, due to the evolution of harvesting and processing technology, tea production reached an unprecedented scale. With the pursuit of elegance and elegance by literati in the Song Dynasty, the image of tea broke away from its crude functionality and incorporated the delicacy and charm of the falling flower season. The drinking method and variety of tea also innovated to a dazzling array during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Nowadays, Chinese tea culture is flourishing, with a hundred schools of thought competing and connected to the daily lives of the people of Jiangnan. The tea culture in Jiangnan, represented by "people in the grass and trees," has become a vivid business card of China. The fragrance of tea transcends history and borders, achieving cultural exchange and mutual learning.

At the same time, the development history of tea houses integrates commercial nature and cultural connotations, making the tea house industry a microcosm of social transformation. The earliest prototype of a teahouse was a tea stall in the Jin Dynasty, which later evolved into a small market stall for "frying tea and selling it" during the Kaiyuan period of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. By the Song Dynasty, Chinese tea houses had entered a prosperous period. At this time, tea houses were often referred to as tea shops, which had rich social communication functions, such as providing people with tea to drink, chat, and negotiate business deals. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the development of social economy and the prevalence of tea tasting, tea houses became increasingly diverse and evolved into popular entertainment venues, including Qing tea houses, large tea houses, book tea houses, and garden tea houses. One representative one is the Book Tea House, where guests listen to books, cross-talk, and Pingtan while drinking tea.

The exquisitely decorated Pingtan stage, quaint and elegant tea snacks, and breathtaking views of the ancient town attract old tea enthusiasts to come to the first tea house in Jiangnan, wrapped in the sound of the four seasons, creating a unique urban atmosphere of the ancient town tea house. It witnesses the spiritual connection between tea, tea houses, and people, and the traditional Jiangnan tea culture is becoming increasingly strong amidst the fragrance of tea.

Unfortunately, with the emergence of various new tea houses in recent years, there are few old tea houses in the traditional context that gather people from all walks of life and are filled with the hustle and bustle of the market. As a carrier of folk culture, the old tea house has a slightly desolate trend. However, in the new era, Chinese tea houses are increasingly emphasizing historical accumulation, cultural inheritance, as well as the drinking and social experience of tea drinkers, making them a rare social space in bustling cities.

The saying goes, "Boiling tea in a furnace smells warm and fragrant, and brings joy to the good season of the world." This is a popular trend of brewing tea in a furnace, reflecting people's desire to seek an outlet in the busy pace of life. Compared to the carefully crafted tea tasting scenery, perhaps we can also choose to go to the first tea house in Jiangnan, where we can enjoy the fragrance of tea and talk about the present in the historical imprint, stealing half a day's leisure.

Conclusion

Chinese Story, International Expression, Z Era Singing and Enjoying the Youth of Jiangnan Notes, I am Hu Jiayi. Thank you, Teacher Lu Ping, for your passionate performance and for taking us to hear about Jiangnan together.

When it comes to Jiangnan, what is engraved in one's mind is the gentle scenery of small bridges, flowing water, and misty rain. The integration of Jiangnan ancient towns and tea culture, as a typical representative of the Jiangnan region, has great international significance for the times. I choose to focus on the first tea house in Jiangnan, located in the ancient town of Zhujiajiao. On the one hand, I trace the historical development of this building, and on the other hand, I trace the historical process of Jiangnan tea and tea houses, highlighting the practical value of tea houses in today's fast-paced society. On the other hand, the first tea house in Jiangnan also provides free morning tea to the local elderly as an introduction, exploring the market atmosphere and humanistic care of tea culture, and deepening the significance of tea houses as carriers of folk culture. I hope to use the sincere story of putting people first to convey the core of Jiangnan culture to the international community, overcome historical barriers, and always be warm and moving.

Thank you for listening to today's Z Era Singing and Enjoying Jiangnan. See you next time.

END

Image writing and audio production: Hua Yuqi

Editor: Yuan Lin

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