This post is written by Linus Hammarstrand:

Sichuan, a province in Southwestern China, has a long and distinguished tradition of drinking tea. For hundreds of years, the tea trail that connected China and Tibet went through the mountainous province. Even today many Sichuanese cities, towns and villages boasts at least one tea-house. These tea-houses serve as the nexus of many communities and the locals come here to exchange news, gossip, relax and of course, enjoy a nice cup of tea. This picture was taken in a small village on route to the city of Meishan.

Tea break at the South Chinese Countryside

The author was at this time leading a biking expedition through Sichuan’s countryside and here we decided to stop for a tea-break, much to the enjoyment of the locals, who hadn’t seen many foreigners in their lives! I am pretty convinced that they are still talking about the day when the Laowais, foreigners, came to town in their strange biking clothes!