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What's brewing in Hangzhou this month?

If you're wondering just what's brewing in Hangzhou this month, well the refreshing answer is that the city is poised to stage a major festival celebrating all things about tea.

Billed as "The 2009 China West Lake International Tea Culture Expo" this beverage-boosting bonanza will take place from March 27 to April 17 in the city, the capital of the eastern province of Zhejiang. The event is part of the city's campaign to lobby for the inclusion of West Lake as one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

As well as promoting West Lake's appeal to tourists, the three week long event will also emphasize Hangzhou's status as China's "Tea Capital" and its heritage as the home city for Longjing Tea or, as it is also widely known as, Dragon Well Tea.

The event, sponsored by the Hangzhou city government, the China International Tea Culture Research Association, the China Tea Science Society and the Zhejiang Tourism Bureau, will also showcase Hangzhou's achievements in urban renewal, environmental development and tourism.

As well as taking tea, visitors to the expo will also have the opportunity to go cruising on the lake, learn more about the city and its culture, as well as discovering something of tea's long history in China and the many ceremonies associated with it.

A number of special events are promised as part of its three-week program.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony will be held on March 27 in Cimu Bridge Village, Zhuantang Street, West Lake District. This lavish ceremony will begin with the picking of this year's fresh tea crop and will include a celebration of Longjing Tea as an integral part of Chinese culture.

Longjing Tea exhibition

This exhibition, sponsored by the West Lake Administrative Committee, the Hangzhou Tourism Committee, and the China International Tea Culture Association, will showcase the long history of Longjing Tea, as well as its unique plantation and harvesting method.

It will also look at the ways in which the company has integrated new technology with its traditional approach to growing tea.

A group of industry professionals and guests will gather in the evening when more than 1,000 people will drink and appreciate Longjing Tea together.

Trip to the tea city

From March 27 to 29, more than 100 reporters and editors from the nation's mainstream websites, including sina.com.cn and Xinhuanet.com, will be invited to visit the city and to experience the event for themselves.

This project will form part of the media initiative - West Lake Tea Culture in Lens.

Teahouse managers' annual meeting

From March 30 to April 2, the event will host the teahouse managers' annual meeting. This will be organized by the China International Tea Culture Research Association.

The event will highlight a bid to establish a national-level quality rating on teahouses and promote the on-going development of the industry.

The results of the initial quality rating round will be announced during the session.

Tea-poem meeting

On April 7, a tea-poem meeting will be held in the city. A group of folk culture experts and tea research scholars will attend the event. Members of the city's classical poetry association will also attend what is being seen as the cultural high point of the forum.

Qinghefang folk tea meeting

From April 9 to 14, a number of folk tea ceremonies will be showcased during events in Wushan Square, Qinghefang Ancient Street and Wugongshan Square. Visitors will have the opportunity to appreciate premium quality Longjing Tea, wander the ancient thoroughfares and attend an exhibition of classical teaware.

'Tea family' promotion program

On April 4, 5, 11 and 12, a "Tea family" event will be staged. Some 100 families employed in the tea industry will join a training program organized by the China Tea Museum - of these 10 families will be selected as ideal "Tea Families".

12th West Lake Int'l Tea Meeting

On April 13-20, an exhibition of some top tea ware, made in both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan province, will be on show. A tea appreciation event will also be held with the aim of promoting tea culture in local middle schools and universities.

Third China (Hangzhou) International Tea Banquet Appreciation Meeting

This event will be held in the Hangzhou Xiangyi Hotel on April 15. Visitors will have the chance to appreciate the award-winning dishes of the first and second sessions of the China (Hangzhou) International Tea Banquet. The event will also promote the West Lake Tea Banquet.

Cross-Straits tea culture summit

This event, sponsored by the Taiwan Cheng Shiu University, Luyu Tea Culture Center of Taiwan Tenren Group and World Tea Association, will see a gathering of a group of leading tea culture experts. The subject under discussion will be the industrialization of tea cultures.

Cross-Straits tea cultural exchange

A number of tea-related cultural exchange programs will be held in Lingyin Temple.

Hangzhou tea-drinking day

On April 20, a local tea-drinking day will be inaugurated across the city.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony of the event will be held in the Yuhang Shuangxi Lake Scenery Area.

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What's brewing in Hangzhou this month?