The Da Hong Pao (大红袍, Big Red Robe) scenic area centres on a cliff face at Jiulong Ke (Nine Dragon Hollow), where six ancient tea bushes grow from a crack in the rock about 10 metres above the ground. These are the legendary original bushes from which the most prized oolong in China is said to descend. The walk from the scenic area entrance follows a stream through a narrow gorge with tea gardens on both sides — the contrast between the tended cultivation below and the wild cliff above is striking.
The story of the name is told on placards throughout the area: a scholar on his way to the imperial examinations became ill and was cured by tea from these bushes; grateful for his recovery, he draped his crimson robe over them in thanks. The real history is more complex but the mythology has made Da Hong Pao one of the most commercially valuable teas in the world. The area includes a small tea culture museum and several tasting stations where you can try oolongs from different grades and farms in the region.