The brick dark teas are pictured in a shop in Chibi, Central China's Hubei province, on November 29, 2016. [Photo by Zhu Lingqing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Inherit spirits of the craftsmen

Gan, having learned from many tea masters, said every of them had imparted his or her unique wisdom to him.

In the process of tea manufacturing, pile fermentation is the hardest part. No one except Gan among his peers in the factory has done the work for five years.

"The work requires the greatest intensity of labor and it is done on high temperature and dusty condition. No young man would like to do the job."

Xu Aisheng, a pile fermentation technician, told Gan at that time being diligent is the key of the work. Xu set himself an example to Gan as he kept checking tea pile every early morning.