Ancient brick tea route to Russia experiences revival

WUHAN - In the 17th century, hundreds of thousands of merchants transported brick tea - blocks of compressed oolong tea or black tea - along a trade route that linked Central China's Hubei province with St. Petersburg, Russia.

The 6,500-kilometer ancient tea road has been restored to its former glory in recent years, as the tea trade between Hubei and countries along the route has been booming.

"In recent years, brick tea has fascinated many tea lovers in countries participating in the Belt and Road," said Li Xinhua, former director of the tea industry development bureau in Chibi, Hubei, which once was the starting point of the tea road.