Yichang black tea brand debuts on high-speed train

By Yan Wanqin.

On July 9, the G346 high-speed train, sponsored by Yihong Gongfu Tea, made its inaugural trip from Yichang East to Beijing West. With fully branded carriages, the tea became Yichang's second regional brand after Zigui Navel Oranges to use high-speed rail for nationwide promotion.
 

Inside the carriage, branded elements of Yihong Gongfu Tea are displayed on headrest covers, tray tables and luggage racks, turning the train into a "mobile tea culture museum." To add a cultural touch, performers dressed as Qu Yuan and Wang Zhaojun - two historical figures native to Yichang - made appearances at the launch ceremony.

The G346 train, with stops at Yichangbei, Tianmen, Hankou, Zhengzhou East and Shijiazhuang, links Yichang's core tea-producing areas with key markets in northern China, creating a high-speed corridor for the brand's expansion.

Yihong Gongfu Tea is one of China’s three major gongfu black teas, alongside Keemun black tea and Yunnan black tea, and has a history spanning over 200 years. It was once exported via the ancient Tea Horse Road. In 2025, its brand value reached 8.65 billion yuan (US$1.27 billion).

In recent years, Yichang has implemented a strategy to "improve green tea, revitalize black tea and develop dark tea," establishing a distinctive brand lineup featuring Yihong Gongfu Tea, Yichang Maojian green tea and Changshengchuan chin-brick tea.

Yichang Tea Group, the leading tea producer in the city, has invested in brand building and established a nationwide sales network. Other major players including Xiaoshi, Caihua and Xinding have also stepped up their efforts.