Wu has developed tea-based dishes that have won him over 800 regular customers, he says.

He also offers them experiences picking, processing and tasting tea.

Jiu'an is one of many areas that have benefited from Guiyang's green development.

The city has put ecological protection first and seeks to maximize economic and social benefits, says mayor Chen Yan, who's also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress.

Last year, the city's "green economy" accounted for 45 percent of the regional gross domestic product, which reached 404 billion yuan, up 7.4 percent over the previous year.

"We've strengthened top-level designs and made systematic innovations," Chen says.