logo
Chinese Tea Dazzles at the United Nations Again – After Eight Years, Yang Juncheng and His Wife Bring Sichuan Dazhou Selenium-Rich Tea Back to the UN: Using Tea as a Medium to Convey Chinese Culture

Chinese Tea Dazzles at the United Nations Again – After Eight Years, Yang Juncheng and His Wife Bring Sichuan Dazhou Selenium-Rich Tea Back to the UN: Using Tea as a Medium to Convey Chinese Culture

Globe and Mail17-04-2025

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, and this year's UN Chinese Language Day features the theme 'Poetic China, Romantic Elegance.' The event aims to explore pathways for building a community with a shared future for humanity through diverse expressions of the Chinese language and culture, responding to the deep calls for multilateral cooperation and cultural inclusivity in the context of global changes over the past century. Yang Juncheng and Zhu Xiaoxia, founders of 'Lanfei Impression' private tea and inheritors of Dazhou selenium-rich tea from Sichuan, made their third appearance on the UN stage. Using tea as a medium, they integrated the millennia-old genes of Bashu culture into global dialogue, becoming the most dazzling 'Eastern Messengers' of this event.
Dazhou Tea Legacy: A Millennial Echo from the Tea Horse Road to Global Governance
'At this moment, the tea in my hand grows in the Daba Mountains at 30° north latitude, where the soil is nourished by the night rains of Bashan. Each tea leaf embodies the resilience of the difficult Shu Road and the abundance of the Land of Abundance,' Yang Juncheng began, speaking in a strong local accent to over 200 diplomats and scholars about the cultural significance of Sichuan tea. Located in the Daba Mountains, Dazhou City in Sichuan Province, an important node on the ancient Tea Horse Road recorded in the Chronicles of Huayang, has historically been the throat for Sichuan tea traveling north. Yang Juncheng combines his family's generations-old, pure handcrafted tea-making techniques with Dazhou's selenium-rich soil characteristics to create uniquely healthy tea with high selenium content!
Three Trips to the United Nations: Chinese Wisdom and Technological Empowerment in the Aroma of Tea
'Today, through my three visits to the UN, I convey to the world the 'Three Harmonies' of Chinese tea—harmony with nature, harmony with the world, and harmony with the future!' Yang Juncheng declared emphatically during his speech. The UN Chinese Language Day is a highlight moment for the Chinese language and culture in global cultural exchanges. Tea, as a dazzling pearl of Chinese culture, carries thousands of years of history and wisdom, just like the Chinese language. When tea meets Chinese Language Day, it is like a heartfelt embrace of millennia-old civilizations, adding vibrant strokes to global cultural exchange. China is the birthplace of tea. Throughout its long history, tea has become one of the three most popular non-alcoholic beverages worldwide. As individuals from the origin of tea, this honor and pride are deeply rooted in our hearts. Yang Juncheng's hometown, Sichuan, is one of the original regions of tea trees and an important birthplace of tea drinking, cultivation, and production, as well as global tea culture. Five thousand years ago, Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs and discovered that 'tea' could detoxify, initiating the medicinal legend of tea. Three thousand years ago, the ancient Shu ancestors used tea to worship deities along the banks of the Jinsha River. Tea traveled along the "Shu Body Poison Road," the precursor to the Tea Horse Road, becoming one of the earliest links connecting different civilizations. Dazhou of Sichuan, known as the "Hometown of the Ba People and China's Air Capital," is a key starting point on this path of civilization. According to the Chronicles of Huayang, tea from the Dazhou region became a tribute to King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty during the Western Zhou period. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the Record of the Ziyunping Tea Planting Spiritual Garden rock inscription from Dazhou recorded the earliest known tea cultivation in China. Today, in the mountains of Dazhou, two ancient tea trees over a thousand years old still flourish, exuding their fragrant aroma. They serve as a living "gene bank" of Chinese tea civilization, quietly telling ancient stories. This region has also nurtured many centenarians, attesting to the miraculous gifts of nature—Dazhou's soil is naturally rich in selenium, and its centenarians abound. The ancient tea trees grow naturally in the high-altitude ecological environment of the Daba Mountains, coexisting with dove trees and redwood for a millennium, welcoming morning dew and embracing starlight at night. In modern times, Chinese tea has spread globally along the Silk Road, transforming this magical "Eastern leaf" into a bridge connecting the world.
This millennia-spanning dialogue of civilization finds contemporary interpretation in the philosophy of tea. As Yang Juncheng stated, 'Three hundred years ago, my ancestors picked tea in the bamboo forests of southern Sichuan using bamboo baskets for steaming. Today, I use my hands, calloused and filled with stories, to roast the tea leaves. What has changed is the era; what remains unchanged is the craftsmanship that brings the tea to life! I am a Sichuan tea master who spends most of my time immersed in the aroma of tea. Standing here today, what I hold is not just the selenium-rich tea from the high mountains of Dazhou, but also the 'living craft' passed down from our ancestors—the millennia-old secrets of Chinese handcrafted tea.'
Peace Tea Garden Initiative: Sowing the Common Future of Humanity Through Tea
At the end of his speech, Yang Juncheng proposed the global action of 'One Leaf of Peace':
Ecological Restoration: Planting radiation-resistant tea trees in Chernobyl to purify the soil with tea polyphenols.
Cultural Integration: Establishing tea art classes in Palestinian refugee camps to make tea a survival skill.
Civilizational Dialogue: Promoting the "Tea Has No Borders" initiative, donating thousands of acres of tea gardens annually in conflict areas.
'Tea does not require a visa; it allows hostile hands to work together.' This initiative received high praise from representatives of UNESCO, who called it a 'climate and peace solution bonded by culture.'
The mission of Sichuan tea under the theme of UN Chinese Language Day!
At the end of the event, Yang Juncheng told reporters, 'Today, on the occasion of UN Chinese Language Day, we gather here to tell the world about China and to spread goodwill. Humanity has only one Earth! Let us follow and protect nature, allowing 'wild tea' to better safeguard humanity! May the aroma of tea cross borders, and may the world share in peace!' Yang Juncheng, a Sichuan tea master, and his 'Lanfei Impression' handcrafted tea showcased this theme vividly—linking the bamboo slips of the Warring States period to contemporary technology, and the Tea Horse Road to digital tea gardens. Sichuan tea, as a 'living heritage,' interprets the philosophy of 'upholding integrity and innovating' within Chinese civilization. As Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN, stated, 'Chinese is the strongest voice for true multilateralism, and tea culture is a concrete expression of this spirit.'
As Yang Juncheng walked toward the UN hall with a tea cup in hand, the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty blended with the mist of Dazhou's tea mountains in the morning light. This tea from Southwest China is infusing global governance with Eastern wisdom, embodying both the resilience of 'spicy and fragrant' flavors and the grandeur of 'comfort and ease.' Because the world will ultimately understand that the deepest reconciliation begins with reverence and sharing of the same tea leaf!
At the end of the event, Yang Juncheng stated, 'Today, on the occasion of UN Chinese Language Day, we gather here to tell the world about China and to spread goodwill. Humanity has only one Earth! Let us follow and protect nature, allowing 'wild tea' to better safeguard humanity! May the aroma of tea cross borders, and may the world share in peace!'
From the tribute tea of King Wu of Zhou to today's tea cups at UN Chinese Language Day, Chinese tea has always been a messenger of civilizational dialogue. Facing the turbulent waves of trade wars, we take tea as our vessel, carrying the Eastern spirit of "integrity and frugality" to navigate the seas; confronting the era's proposition of peaceful development, we use tea as a mirror, reflecting the brilliant future of shared human destiny. May this cup of Eastern wisdom, transcending three thousand years, bring more clarity and fragrance to the world!
Finally, Yang Juncheng extended an invitation to the world: 'This is my third time representing Sichuan's tea at the UN. I am very honored and proud. I hope more friends and even influencers from around the world can come to China, taste the flavors of Sichuan tea, and visit our Dazhou tea industry base to experience the charm of Bashu culture!'
He also tagged 'Speed,' who just completed a trip to China, hoping that next time he visits China, he will definitely go to Dazhou, Sichuan, to enjoy tea crafted by 'Tea Master' Yang Juncheng and try the 'Lanfei Impression' handcrafted tea. He believes that just as Speed likes the flavors of his favorite teas, he will also come to appreciate Chinese tea!
(Reporter: Zhuzhu)
Media Contact
Company Name: Lanfeitea company
Contact Person: Yang juncheng
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: http://www.lanfeitea.com/

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chinese hackers and user lapses turn smartphones into a ‘mobile security crisis'
Chinese hackers and user lapses turn smartphones into a ‘mobile security crisis'

Winnipeg Free Press

time3 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Chinese hackers and user lapses turn smartphones into a ‘mobile security crisis'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cybersecurity investigators noticed a highly unusual software crash — it was affecting a small number of smartphones belonging to people who worked in government, politics, tech and journalism. The crashes, which began late last year and carried into 2025, were the tipoff to a sophisticated cyberattack that may have allowed hackers to infiltrate a phone without a single click from the user. The attackers left no clues about their identities, but investigators at the cybersecurity firm iVerify noticed that the victims all had something in common: They worked in fields of interest to China's government and had been targeted by Chinese hackers in the past. Foreign hackers have increasingly identified smartphones, other mobile devices and the apps they use as a weak link in U.S. cyberdefenses. Groups linked to China's military and intelligence service have targeted the smartphones of prominent Americans and burrowed deep into telecommunication networks, according to national security and tech experts. It shows how vulnerable mobile devices and apps are and the risk that security failures could expose sensitive information or leave American interests open to cyberattack, those experts say. 'The world is in a mobile security crisis right now,' said Rocky Cole, a former cybersecurity expert at the National Security Agency and Google and now chief operations officer at iVerify. 'No one is watching the phones.' US zeroes in on China as a threat, and Beijing levels its own accusations U.S. authorities warned in December of a sprawling Chinese hacking campaign designed to gain access to the texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. 'They were able to listen in on phone calls in real time and able to read text messages,' said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. He is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and the senior Democrat on the Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, created to study the geopolitical threat from China. Chinese hackers also sought access to phones used by Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance during the 2024 campaign. The Chinese government has denied allegations of cyberespionage, and accused the U.S. of mounting its own cyberoperations. It says America cites national security as an excuse to issue sanctions against Chinese organizations and keep Chinese technology companies from the global market. 'The U.S. has long been using all kinds of despicable methods to steal other countries' secrets,' Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said at a recent press conference in response to questions about a CIA push to recruit Chinese informants. U.S. intelligence officials have said China poses a significant, persistent threat to U.S. economic and political interests, and it has harnessed the tools of digital conflict: online propaganda and disinformation, artificial intelligence and cyber surveillance and espionage designed to deliver a significant advantage in any military conflict. Mobile networks are a top concern. The U.S. and many of its closest allies have banned Chinese telecom companies from their networks. Other countries, including Germany, are phasing out Chinese involvement because of security concerns. But Chinese tech firms remain a big part of the systems in many nations, giving state-controlled companies a global footprint they could exploit for cyberattacks, experts say. Chinese telecom firms still maintain some routing and cloud storage systems in the U.S. — a growing concern to lawmakers. 'The American people deserve to know if Beijing is quietly using state-owned firms to infiltrate our critical infrastructure,' U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich. and chairman of the China committee, which in April issued subpoenas to Chinese telecom companies seeking information about their U.S. operations. Mobile devices have become an intel treasure trove Mobile devices can buy stocks, launch drones and run power plants. Their proliferation has often outpaced their security. The phones of top government officials are especially valuable, containing sensitive government information, passwords and an insider's glimpse into policy discussions and decision-making. The White House said last week that someone impersonating Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, reached out to governors, senators and business leaders with texts and phone calls. It's unclear how the person obtained Wiles' connections, but they apparently gained access to the contacts in her personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles' number, the newspaper reported. While most smartphones and tablets come with robust security, apps and connected devices often lack these protections or the regular software updates needed to stay ahead of new threats. That makes every fitness tracker, baby monitor or smart appliance another potential foothold for hackers looking to penetrate networks, retrieve information or infect systems with malware. Federal officials launched a program this year creating a 'cyber trust mark' for connected devices that meet federal security standards. But consumers and officials shouldn't lower their guard, said Snehal Antani, former chief technology officer for the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command. 'They're finding backdoors in Barbie dolls,' said Antani, now CEO of a cybersecurity firm, referring to concerns from researchers who successfully hacked the microphone of a digitally connected version of the toy. Risks emerge when smartphone users don't take precautions It doesn't matter how secure a mobile device is if the user doesn't follow basic security precautions, especially if their device contains classified or sensitive information, experts say. Mike Waltz, who departed as Trump's national security adviser, inadvertently added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief to a Signal chat used to discuss military plans with other top officials. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon's security protocols set up in his office so he could use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, the AP has reported. Hegseth has rejected assertions that he shared classified information on Signal, a popular encrypted messaging app not approved for the use of communicating classified information. China and other nations will try to take advantage of such lapses, and national security officials must take steps to prevent them from recurring, said Michael Williams, a national security expert at Syracuse University. 'They all have access to a variety of secure communications platforms,' Williams said. 'We just can't share things willy-nilly.'

New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London
New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London

Toronto Star

time6 hours ago

  • Toronto Star

New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London

BEIJING (AP) — U.S.-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. Technology is a major sticking point The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate U.S. export controls. That's because the chips were likely developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the U.S. side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW China shows signs of easing up on rare earths One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also a range of other products from robots to military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Plan to revoke student visas adds to tensions Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a U.S. announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. China's Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the U.S. had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas. 'The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 28 statement that the United States would 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' More than 270,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in the 2023-24 academic year.

New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London
New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London

Winnipeg Free Press

time7 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London

BEIJING (AP) — U.S.-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. Technology is a major sticking point The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate U.S. export controls. That's because the chips were likely developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the U.S. side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. China shows signs of easing up on rare earths One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also a range of other products from robots to military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. Plan to revoke student visas adds to tensions Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a U.S. announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. China's Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the U.S. had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas. 'The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 28 statement that the United States would 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' More than 270,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in the 2023-24 academic year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store