A farmer trims tea leaves at a plantation near West Lake in Hangzhou on Oct 9. [Photo/IC]

After the start of Cold Dew, the 17th solar term according to the Chinese lunar calendar, tea farmers in the Longjing tea plantations near the West Lake scenic area were busy tending to their tea trees.

They pruned leaves, applied organic fertilizers, and took various measures to nourish the trees and help the tea plants absorb and store nutrients during the winter, ensuring a fruitful tea leaf harvest next year.

Cold Dew began this year on Oct 8 and ends on Oct 23. At this time, temperatures are much lower than during White Dew in most areas of China, the dew becomes colder and more widespread, there is less rain, and autumn crops will ripen.

As autumn progresses and tea gardens prepare for the cold season ahead, tea enthusiasts can look forward to enjoying the exceptional taste and aroma of freshly-harvested Longjing tea when spring arrives.

A farmer applies organic fertilizers to Longjing tea trees in his plantation. [Photo/IC]