With the weather warming up, farmers have begun picking tea leaves in Laoshan district, Qingdao.

Laoshan, the highest latitude tea-producing region in China, was recognized as the "hometown of famous tea in Jiangbei" (Jiangbei refers to the region north of the Yangtze River).

The tea industry is a crucial part of rural revitalization in Laoshan district. According to local officials, the industry employs nearly 20,000 farmers in total.

With a planting area of about 1,333 hectares, the area produces tea worth 500 million yuan ($70.67 million) annually. The value of the "Laoshan Tea" brand is estimated at 1.22 billion yuan.

Farmers pick tea leaves at a tea garden in Laoshan district, Qingdao on April 10. [Photo by Chen Xuwei/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A farmer shows a spring tea leaf she picked at a tea garden in Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Chen Xuwei/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Farmers show off the tea leaves they picked at a plantation in Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Chen Xuwei/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tea experts stir-fry tea leaves at a plantation in Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Chen Xuwei/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Performers show the art of tea making at a plantation in Laoshan district, Qingdao. [Photo by Chen Xuwei/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]