As temperatures rise, most tea growers in Lanshan, Donggang and Shanhaitian area in Rizhao city, East China's Shandong province begin picking spring tea leaves.

Since the introduction of tea to Rizhao in 1966, the green tea planting areas in the city has been continuously expanded. Currently, the tea gardens occupy a total area of 278,000 mu (18,533.33 hectares), while the total dry tea production has reached 15,500 tons, with a total output value of 3 billion yuan ($441.18 million).

Villagers pick tea leaves at a tea garden in Jufeng town of Rizhao, East China's Shandong province on April 29. [Photo by Gao Qimin/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A farmer picks tea leaves at a tea garden in Jufeng town of Rizhao, East China's Shandong province on April 29. [Photo by Gao Qimin/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The first batch of spring tea now is available now in Rizhao's green tea planting areas. [Photo by Gao Qimin/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]