Genshin Impact – The prototype of the Chenyu Vale: tea village in Anhui China
It’s another Chinese New Year, and the popular mobile game “Genshin Impact” has also ushered in a new year version with rich content. Liyue, which represents Chinese culture, holds the festive and lively Lantern Rite Festival at this time every year. However, what is different from previous periods is that the new map located in the Liyue territory, in northern border – “Chenyu Vale”, which has been paved for a long time, now has been officially implemented.
The settlement in the valley is called “Qiaoying Village”. It is built according to the situation of mountains and rivers. The gurgling stream hugs the village, and the wind carries the fragrance of hibiscus in the pond and the refreshing fragrance of tea. The buildings in the village present local cultural characteristics that are different from Liyue Harbor. From a distance, the horse head walls are scattered and lined up in rows, with white walls and black tiles in distinct colors. The green mountains in the background complement each other and the style of this water town, outlining a tranquil place. A peaceful paradise.
As the birthplace of Teyvat tea culture and the largest tea producing area, there are large rolling tea fields on the back hill of Qiaoying Village.
The residents of Qiaoying Village, who gather because of tea and make a living on tea, love and respect tea. The hazy and beautiful legends about tea have been passed down from generation to generation.
Amidst the continuous tea fields in the mountains, tea pickers toil, and it is said that originally, Herblord ( aka “Lord of Medicine”) transformed his immortal body into the luxuriant branches of ancient tea trees. Subsequently, residents of the mountains, through the passage of long years, transplanted these immortal tea branches, allowing the rich and fragrant tea to finally spread to distant places. Legend has it that the suitability of the soil in Qiaoying Village for the vigorous growth of tea trees is precisely due to the blessings and protection bestowed by the immortal since ancient times.
A more romantic belief is that even today, the tea trees still remember a conversation between two friends beside the saplings at some distant moment in the past. It was an agreement between Herblord and Mountain King (Fujin) regarding enjoying tea in the future. The tea kettle enshrined in the manor is now considered the legacy of the immortal. People believe that tea brewed with this treasure exudes a superior fragrance distinct from ordinary teas.
The ancient ceremony commemorating Herblord has been preserved and passed down through generations. Despite the erosion of time, the initial records and practices of the ceremony have become vague and unclear. Yet, the people of Qiaoying Village always remember: the blossoming of the Soul Fragrance flowers each year marks the beginning of the preparation for the tea ceremony. When the flowers wither, the highly fragrant flower tea is completed, ready to be offered in front of the hall.
The picturesque Chenyu Vale and Qiaoying Village, like a poem and a painting, draw their artistic design inspiration from the natural landscapes of Mount Huangshan and the traditional Hui-style architecture in Anhui, China.
Hui style architecture
Organic Tea Field Demonstration Area
At the same time, Anhui Province is also a renowned tea-producing region in China, boasting many globally acclaimed tea varieties. Among them, the most famous include Qimen Hongcha (Keemun Black Tea), Huangshan Maofeng, and Liu An Gua Pian. These teas not only enjoy a prestigious reputation domestically but also receive widespread acclaim internationally. Qimen Hongcha is one of the representatives of Chinese black tea, renowned for its unique “Qimen fragrance” and exceptional quality. Huangshan Maofeng and Liu An Gua Pian, on the other hand, are excellent examples of green tea, beloved for their high quality and distinctive characteristics by consumers. Additionally, Anhui Province is home to other well-known teas such as Taiping Houkui, Yongxi Huoqing, and Yuexi Cuilan. Each of these teas possesses unique characteristics and superior quality, making them treasures of Anhui’s tea culture.
