Visiting Phoenix Mountain - Hosted by a Local Tea Farming Family
Author: Rebecca Emken
Phoenix Mountain is a brilliant tea mountain, full of brilliant views and fresh air. The mountain range is clean, picturesque, and covered in tea trees. The sun is warm and bright, the air is rejuvenating from all the tea trees, and the mountain is vibrant with life.
Phoenix Mountain views. All these trees are tea trees.
There are terraces on the lower elevation, where garden teas are grown.
In November 2025, Dr. Ming Wu brought a group of American students and disciples across Guangdong Province. During our journey, we were hosted by a tea farming family in a village on the mountainside.
As we travelled across Guangdong Province, the areas around Master Wu’s hometown had a strong tea culture. Whenever we entered someone’s home, the first thing we did was have gong gu tea together.
Dr. Wu making Ya Shi Xiang, or Duck Poo tea, on Phoenix Mountain.
Our group enjoying tea around the tea table.
Having lunch together.
After tea, our hosts served us lunch! The food was absolutely delicious. It was the best beef I ever had in my life. The beef was my favorite dish. It was juicy, fresh, and had an astronomically wonderful flavor. I inquired about what kind of sauce they used. I hoped that I could buy the same sauce back in the US, and flavor my beef with it.
Turns out, the beef was from a cow slaughtered earlier that morning. The cow was raised local. Right after the cow was slaughtered, the meat went straight to the stove. The beef never was stored or even went into the refrigerator. It was the localest, freshest, kind of beef you could have, and oh my goodness it was DELICIOUS.
Aarray of delicious dishes.
Juicy, bouncy, pork meatballs in seaweed soup.
After lunch, we got to check out the machines that the tea farming family uses to transform their raw tea leaves into a delicious, fragrant, dried product.
The oven on the left uses heat to dry the tea leaves.
The steel drum oven on the right is used in fixing tea, which maintains the leaves’ current flavor and aroma.
This machine spins tea leaves around, enabling them to undergo the physical bruising process. This adds a sweet and savory taste, and reduces astringency.
After lunch, our hosts lead us on a hike up Phoenix Mountain. The next two photos show the village, and how high up the village is on the mountain.
The village of tea farming families. These families have small family tea companies.
A view from the village, showing how high up the village is. If you look closely by the river, you’ll see the town far, far below.
Next are some photos from our hike. We passed by some ancient tea trees, and I sat underneath a tea tree that is 200 years old.
Hiking up Phoenix Mountain.
A 200 year old tea tree.
I’m sitting under the 200 year old tea tree.
As we hiked up the mountainside, we encountered a peaceful, serene rock ledge where you can practice tai chi, surrounded by tea trees and healing natural energy.
Dr Wu practicing tai chi. His shirt displays his Fengyang Mantra- I am air, I am light, I am water flow. Here, it feels like you are one with the natural world.
Rebecca practicing tai chi. A dragonfly hovers above her hand.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Phoenix Mountain. I would like to thank Yidao and his family for hosting us. They were wonderful hosts, especially with their delicious teas and thoroughly delicious lunch.
Phoenix Mountain is a phenomenal place to be.
Rebecca with Yidao.
The tea farming village on Phoenix Mountain.