NONGFU SPRING's new production facility at the foot of Yunnan's Jiaozi Snow Mountain has officially commenced operations. Analysts suggest that the launch of this plant enhances the company's production capacity layout in the southwestern region and further solidifies its strategic advantage in water sourcing.
According to Tong Zhenggang, General Manager of the Jiaozi Snow Mountain plant, the facility sources its water from melted snow off the mountain, following five years of continuous monitoring and analysis. "The water temperature here remains constant year-round at around 8 degrees Celsius, with abundant and stable supply. The water is naturally pure, has a refreshing taste, and contains essential natural mineral elements such as potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and metasilicic acid," he explained.
Located in northern Kunming, Jiaozi Snow Mountain serves as a crucial water conservation area for the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is also one of China's lowest-latitude snow-capped mountains in winter, with its main peak exceeding 4,200 meters in elevation. The area is rich in flora and fauna and is often referred to as the "Number One Mountain in Central Yunnan."
The high altitude and complex terrain posed significant challenges for the construction of the water conveyance pipeline. The pipeline stretches 41 kilometers, starting from a water source at 2,600 meters above sea level, with an elevation drop of approximately 1,400 meters. About 10 kilometers of the pipeline runs along cliffs. "The construction cost here was more than double that of building a similar plant in a low-altitude region like Zhejiang," Tong noted.
The total investment in the plant project exceeded 1 billion yuan. It is equipped with internationally advanced production equipment and technology, and the factory building is designed to withstand seismic activity with a fortification intensity of 9 degrees. The plant's design incorporates the concept of "Colorful Yunnan," reflecting local characteristics. It is expected to open for public tours in the second quarter of this year, aiming to become a new landmark for industrial tourism in Dongchuan, Yunnan.
In the first phase, five advanced production lines have been installed, enabling fully automated operation from water treatment, bottle blowing, filling, labeling, to packing. Among these, the beverage aseptic line can produce up to 60,000 bottles per hour, ranking among the industry's leading standards. Currently, the first small-bottle water production line is operational, while the aseptic line is expected to begin production and achieve shipping capacity by April this year. Future production capacity will serve Yunnan and surrounding regions.
The plant currently employs nearly 200 people, over 90% of whom are local Yunnan residents. As production capacity gradually increases, supporting industries such as packaging, logistics, and loading are expected to indirectly create thousands of additional jobs.
NONGFU SPRING has been expanding its presence in Yunnan since 2025. In March of that year, five tea primary processing plants funded by the company in locations such as Jingdong, Yunnan, began operations. According to earlier media reports, within a year of operation, these plants helped increase the average income per mu of tea fields by 200–500 yuan, benefiting nearly 10,000 tea farmers in surrounding areas and significantly empowering the upstream sector of the industry. In December, the company signed an agreement for a tea production base project in Shuangjiang, which is expected to contribute over 20 million yuan in annual tax revenue upon completion.
The commissioning of the Jiaozi Snow Mountain plant completes the final piece of the company's industrial chain puzzle in the region and underscores NONGFU SPRING's commitment to deepening its roots in Yunnan. "In the future, this site is expected to become a demonstration production base covering the entire tea industry chain—using Yunnan’s high-quality water to brew Yunnan’s fine tea, and promoting value addition across the industry through industrial standards," Tong projected.