Mingqian tea refers to tea leaves picked before the Qingming Festival in south China. Mingqian tea is characterized by its tender leaves and rich flavors. The output is low and its value is often compared with gold. Spring comes later in north China; therefore, there was no Mingqian tea in history. However, as the temperature is comparatively higher this spring in Rizhao city, east China's Shandong province, tea farmers have picked Mingqian tea for the first time. [Photo/People.cn]