Abstract:On Xinheng Street in Jinghu District, Wuhu, a cafe called “Bu Wu Zheng Lv” has filled its room with tropical plants: the bar, the tables and the walls are all green. Owner Qin Lei tends foliage and hand-grinds coffee in equal measure; the menu runs from classic espresso drinks to creative signatures, of which “Tiger-Stripe Orange” is the favourite. Cups and planters were hunted down in Jingdezhen and elsewhere. She returned to her hometown in 2019, does almost no online promotion, and most customers come on reputation alone.
Several cafes are scattered along Xinheng Street in Jinghu District, Wuhu, but one stands out. Assorted greenery is arranged at the door; step inside and plants fill the bar, the tables, the walls and every corner — as if you had walked into a small indoor forest.
The owner, Qin Lei, loves tending plants as much as she loves grinding coffee by hand. Brewing a cup amid the greenery, serving two or three guests, enjoying an unhurried moment — that calm composure is her philosophy of life.
“This tall, sturdy one with slightly notched leaf tips is Alocasia; this one with striped leaves is Calathea; this one shaped like deer antlers is a staghorn fern…” Standing at her compact bar, Qin Lei runs through her beloved plants for a reporter from Dajiang News. Once she starts on them, she cannot stop.
Green from floor to ceiling at the cafe
“I’m a tropical-plant person myself. Tropicals have vivid colour and distinctive leaf shapes, and in Wuhu, with its four distinct seasons, you rarely see them outdoors,” she says, which is why she moved so much greenery into the cafe — tending plants in spare moments, grinding coffee at work. The name “Bu Wu Zheng Lv” comes from just that.
The green does not stop at the room: even the cups carry prints of leaves and flowers. “These cups and pots were all hunted down in places like Jingdezhen. I want to pass this green on and share it with everyone who walks in.”
Cups and planters collected from Jingdezhen and beyond
Qin Lei makes coffee behind the bar, half hidden among the foliage. Moments later she carries a fragrant cup out of the “dense forest” to the table. “We have classic coffee and creative signatures too; ‘Tiger-Stripe Orange’ is the one customers love most.”
She runs everything herself. Apart from a delivery service, she does almost no online promotion — most guests come on their own, drawn by word of mouth.
Coffee served among the plants
“There were a few girls who started coming for coffee in high school, and over time we became friends. Later they went away for university and I moved the shop from Huaxing Street to Xinheng Street. When I saw them push the door open again, I was full of joy.” For Qin Lei, keeping such quiet, warm offline friendships alive over a cup of coffee is the best state of things.
A native of Wuhu, she studied and worked elsewhere for years after high school, seeing all kinds of cities and coffee formats. In 2019 she chose to come home, bringing back both the experience she had gathered and what she loved.
Owner Qin Lei at the cafe
“Wuhu is full of everyday life — a good place to live.” Rooted in her hometown, Qin Lei has built this cafe that is bursting with life. A small shop, surrounded by greenery, with the smell of coffee: through that small window she keeps what she loves, and leaves a little ease for whoever passes by. “This life,” she says, “fills my heart with joy.”
Reproduction Notice & Disclaimer
This article was compiled and reprinted by China Coffee Network from The Paper “This Cafe in Wuhu Is Bursting with Green”. All rights in the original work belong to The Paper and its author. China Coffee Network reproduces it solely to share information within the coffee industry; it does not represent our editorial position, and all data and views are those of the original. Our thanks to the original author for the work and for sharing it.
Read the original: The Paper “This Cafe in Wuhu Is Bursting with Green”
For matters of authorization, attribution, copyright or otherwise, please contact us at any time and we will verify and cooperate promptly. Coffee origins, brands and industry media are also welcome to write for us.
China Coffee Network contacts: Tel 400-0000-641 (+86-18288016826) | Email 405854472@qq.com | Address: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan / Tieling, Liaoning, China
Reprint Notice & Disclaimer
- This article has been edited and compiled by China Coffee Network. The information and images therein come from public sources and the copyright belongs to the original author. This reprint is intended solely for information sharing within the coffee industry and does not represent the views of this website; all data and opinions are subject to the original article. Our thanks to the original author for creating and sharing it.
- For matters concerning content licensing, attribution, copyright or otherwise, please contact us promptly and we will verify and cooperate in handling them as soon as possible. We also welcome coffee origins, brands and industry media to exchange ideas and contribute articles.
- Contact China Coffee Network: Tel 400-0000-641 (+86-18288016826) | Email 405854472@qq.com | Address: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province / Tieling, Liaoning Province
Related Reading
How ‘Sea-Flavored’ Coffee Blooms Across Dongtou- Health Guide: How to Enjoy Your Coffee the Healthy Way
Study: Regular Coffee and Tea May Lower Dementia Risk, but More Is Not Better
Frontline Story: A ‘Mobile City Coffee Bar’ Arrives by the Grand Canal
Yantai’s Wind Tastes of Coffee
In Zhenyuan, a Cup of Coffee and a Waiting Train
Liaoning ICP Security No. 21122402000217