A hive of activity: The Southern Zhejiang Tea Market gets into high gear this time of the year. [Photo/Tide News]

As the weather warms up and spring tea comes onto the market, the Southern Zhejiang Tea Market – located in Songyang county, Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province – really gets into high gear.

Known as the biggest green tea trading hub in the country, at this time it's just bursting with activity. Tea processors and buyers from all over gather at the tea market, creating a vibrant scene filled with the heady aroma of fresh tea.

In February alone, the market saw a trading volume of 93.09 metric tons, representing a year-on-year increase of about 1.2 percent.

According to Yang Qiaoya from the Songyang Tea Industry Development Center, due to varying climate conditions, teas like Wuniuzao from Southwest China's Sichuan and Guizhou provinces typically hit the market in early February.

By the end of February, teas from Songyang, other parts of Zhejiang, and neighboring provinces began to arrive, rapidly increasing the overall trading volume. The market is expected to reach its peak between April and May.

Currently, Wuniuzao tea – known for its exceptionally early budding – dominates the market, along with small quantities of black, white, Pu'er, and Longjing teas.

"In about 10 days, popular teas like Longjing and white tea are expected to become widely available," Yang added.