Special Supplement: Festival celebrates origins of tea culture

With a cup of tea in hand you may find it easier to unwind in the relaxed atmosphere of your home or favorite teahouse, especially after a day of hard work.

To honor tea, such an important part of daily Chinese life for thousands of years, the 2008 China Tea Sage Festival opened in Yuhang district of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province on April 25.

Numerous tea cultures throughout Asia originated in China - not surprising because tea itself was first found here, where has been savored for millennia. But drinking it is more than a daily custom. It is seen as an art, a philosophy and a lifestyle that brings harmony and a quiet mind.