Chinese and British students pick tea leaves together. [Photo/WeChat account: xszhcz]

Wearing bamboo hats, learning whisked tea techniques and breathing in the aroma of fresh leaves, Chinese and British students recently gathered on a tea hill in Hangzhou's Xihu district for an immersive cultural exchange rooted in China's tea heritage.

The Song Dynasty (960-1279) style tea study tour brought together students from Zhaohui Middle School and the United Kingdom to experience traditional tea culture through a series of hands-on activities.

The students entered an ecological tea garden and became "tea farmers" for the day, learning how to identify tea buds and pick fresh leaves under the guidance of local growers.

They then visited a tea workshop to observe traditional handcrafting techniques, including withering, pan-firing, rolling and drying, following the transformation from fresh leaves to finished tea.

A British student tries frying tea leaves by hand. [Photo/WeChat account: xszhcz]

During the tea ceremony session, participants explored the traditional seven-step whisked tea method, practicing each stage from warming cups and adding tea powder to whisking and tasting.

As tea aromas filled the room, students exchanged stories about tea traditions in their own countries and connected through shared experiences.

Local organizers said the event aimed to deepen international cultural exchange, helping overseas students experience Chinese traditional culture up close while encouraging Chinese students to broaden their global perspectives.

Chinese and British students observe Chinese tea-making traditions. [Photo/WeChat account: xszhcz]