The 13th China International Putuo Buddha Tea Cultural Festival kicks off in Putuo district, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on April 27. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

The 13th China International Putuo Buddha Tea Cultural Festival kicked off in Putuo district, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on April 27, Zhoushan Daily reported.

The opening performance centered around tea culture to demonstrate the growth, harvest, and processing of the Buddha tea in Putuo with dances, instrumental ensembles, as well as poetry recitations.

As the supporting activity of the cultural festival, the first Zhoushan Tea Industry Development Forum was held on the same day where experts were invited to share their opinions on the integrated development of tea culture, industry, and technology, as well as ways to the better development of the tea industry in Zhoushan.

In addition, China Tea Co Ltd and Zhejiang Tea Group Co Ltd inked framework agreements with the Zhejiang International Agricultural Products Trade Center and the Putuo District People's Government respectively at the forum to boost the imports, as well as exports of the tea industry in the city.

Currently, Zhoushan is home to 9,408 mu (627.2 hectares) of tea plantations with 113 different species and three regional brands: Putuo Buddha Tea, Dinghai Mountain Tea, and Penglai Xianzhi Tea.

The city also houses eight tea processing companies, seven cooperatives, as well as more than 20 family farms and tea plantations.

Performer conduts a tea ceremony at the cultural festival. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Zhoushan is home to 9,408 mu of tea plantations with 113 different species and three regional brands. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]