Laoshan district in Qingdao, Shandong province has launched a slew of measures to bolster local tea industry development, local media reported.

Farmers pick tea leaves at a tea plantation in Laoshan district, Qingdao on May 20, 2021. Laoshan green tea is a national geographical indication protected product. [Photo/Guanhai News]

In Laoshan, large-scale tea plantation operations are encouraged, with subsidies for new tea seedling varieties increasing to 6,000 yuan ($942.6) per mu (about 666.67 square meters) from 2,000 yuan previously.

Tea brand competition has been unprecedentedly fierce in recent years. In Laoshan, the tea industry is a pillar of rural vitalization. Laoshan has released a series of documents to encourage the development of the local tea industry since the second half of last year.

An annual investment of no less than 50 million yuan will be allocated to guide and support the development of the tea industry, focusing on tea plantation, tea culture, brand innovation and other aspects.

This year, relevant departments in Qingdao will promote tea whole-process quality control technology. A set of standards and norms system will be formed from seven aspects, such as organization management, personnel management and technical requirements of tea production.