Tea brews a way out of poverty for Yunnan farmers

Earlier this year, the King-Shine tea company came up with industry standards and a tracking system for its products. This is to ensure consistent tea quality.

The tea company realized a total output value of 3.06 billion yuan over 2006-18, contributing 552 million yuan in taxes. And it has helped nearly 5,000 poor rural families to get out poverty.

For Zhang, the tea plantation has become his home. And he turned down better income and job opportunities in Beijing.

"It's hard to leave with all the things we've done and all the people I have come to know over the years," he says.

And he enjoys good relations with the tea farmers.

"They invite me to such events as their children's birthdays, and it's like we are a big family," Zhang says.