Foreign visitors watch a farmer make tea during the 4th China International Tea Expo at the Hangzhou International Expo Center on May 25. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 4th China International Tea Expo concluded at the Hangzhou International Expo Center on May 25, with record highs in transaction volume and intended turnover.

Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as the Zhejiang Provincial Government, the expo attracted nearly 150,000 visits and saw a turnover of 223.8 million yuan ($35 million), up 14 percent year-on-year.

The intended turnover generated at the expo amounted to 6.39 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18 percent.

Two women serve tea for visitors at a booth of the 4th China International Tea Expo at the Hangzhou International Expo Center on May 25. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

With an exhibition area of 70,000 square meters in total, the expo featured exhibition halls themed around tea's history, technology, as well as diversity.

The tea industry is one of the most competitive sectors in Zhejiang's economy. In 2020, the province had 205,000 hectares of tea gardens, which produced 191,000 tons of tea.

As one of the most famous Zhejiang tea brands, Longjing Tea was approved to be a national geographical indication product in 2008. In 2020, the output of Longjing Tea reached 24,500 tons, generating 5.28 billion yuan in revenue.

Zhejiang is the largest exporter of tea among Chinese provinces. It has exported its tea to 91 countries and regions, including Morocco, Senegal, Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Japan.

Last year, Zhejiang exported 146,200 tons of tea, accounting for 41.9 percent of the nation's total tea exports in 2020.