On December 18, a ceremony was held in Hangzhou to commemoratethe inclusion of “Traditional Chinese Tea-making Techniques and Related Customs”intoUNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the ceremony, “Toward a Sustainable Future—Hangzhou Declaration on the Protection and Inheritance of‘Traditional Chinese Tea-making Techniques and Related Customs’”was released. Being listed as an intangible heritage of humanity is an important milestone in the protection of traditional Chinese tea-making techniquesand related customs.

The declaration includes taking the opportunity of inclusionto expand the public’s awareness of tea culture and tea-related knowledgeand encourage them to practice the techniques; immerse them in the tea culture onremarkable occasions such as “International Tea Day”, “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”and “National Tea Drinking Day”;promote“tea as the national drink”and enhance thecultural identityof the Chinese nation.