Journey Along the Ancient Tea Horse Road: Traversing Modern Tea Plantations and Pristine Forests, From China’s Tea City to the Tropical Dai Homeland – Exploring the Green and Eco-Friendly Path in Xishuangbanna
Cycling Route: Ning’er County in Pu’er City to Jinghong City in Xishuangbanna Prefecture
Regional Climate: Both Xishuangbanna and Pu’er are located in the tropical humid zone south of the Tropic of Cancer. This area is rich in heat, warm year-round, and evergreen throughout the seasons. It is characterized by “eternal summer without winter, and instant autumn with rain.” The year is divided into two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts for 5 months (from mid-May to October), while the dry season lasts for 7 months (from October to mid-May the following year). It is a rare winter resort destination in China.
Best Cycling Season: The best time for this cycling route is from October to April of the following year. Mid-April marks the traditional Dai Water Splashing Festival, primarily celebrated in Jinghong from April 12th to 15th, with the grand water-splashing celebration taking place on April 15th. After April 15th, you can continue to celebrate with local people in various towns and villages until late April or early May. January 2nd to 4th is the Hani New Year Festival (Gatangpa), and February 6th is the Jinuo New Year Festival (Temaoke Festival)! From January to March, you can enjoy magnificent sea clouds over the ancient tea mountains.
Transit Stations: Kunming or Dali
Cycling Duration: The time needed for this route varies. A leisurely pace takes 4 to 6 days, while a normal pace takes 3 days.
Cycling Content: Pristine Forests + Tea Horse Road + Modern Tea Plantations + Ethnic Minority Culture
Route Overview: Total distance: approximately 200 kilometers. Duration: 3 days. Difficulty: Medium, relatively leisurely.
Challenges: The altitude climbs over 600 meters, so sun protection is essential.
Cycling Level: Level 5
Physical Intensity: ★★
Technical Difficulty: ★★
Thrill Factor: ★★★
Historical and Cultural Value: ★★★★
Natural Scenery: ★★★★★
Recommended Group Size: 1-20 people
Best Route: Ning’er – Nakeli – Pu’er – Meizi Lake – Puwen – Dadugang – Jinghong
Essential Gear: If camping, bring a tent, sleeping bag, moisture-proof mat, headlamp, compass, stove, matches, etc. Alternatively, pack light as there are plenty of good accommodation options.
Travel Guide:
Day 1: Ning’er County (formerly Pu’er County) to Pu’er City, 35 KM (First, take the new secondary road for 17 KM, or if you’re feeling strong, take the old National Highway 213 for 23 KM).
- Highly Recommended: Visit the Nakeli Village “Letu Potato Soup Old Shop” on the Ancient Tea Horse Road in Ning’er County.
Address: On the secondary road between Simao and Ning’er (213 Line), 17 kilometers from Ning’er, 18 kilometers from the main urban area of Pu’er City (Simao District), next to the Shanghai Jinshan Hope Primary School in Nakeli, part of Tongxin Township. Known for its authentic stone-ground potato soup and local mountain delicacies, it’s quite famous. You can find Nakeli Tea Horse Road on Google Maps; zoom in on the national road to find it!
Cyclists who mention my name (“Yishanshui” from Xishuangbanna) can get a discount.
(The shop owner is my cycling friend’s brother, Yang Qingjiu. To order, call 13508799118)
There are no dedicated guest rooms, but upon request, accommodation can be arranged for up to 20 people in local homes (the restaurant can also arrange a few spots), as there are currently no nearby hotels.
The local government is developing a series of tourist attractions in Nakeli along the Tea Horse Road, and there’s nothing better within tens of kilometers around Simao. If you have time, you can hike a section of the Tea Horse Road.
After this stop, there’s a 9-kilometer uphill section on the secondary road, which is busy with traffic, so be careful (about 2 kilometers up, there’s a small Yi village called “Pojiao,” also an essential stop on the Tea Horse Road, worth a visit by bike). Then, it’s a 10-kilometer downhill ride to Pu’er City. Another route from Nakeli to Pu’er City involves taking a section of the old National Highway 213 (ask Boss Yang and the locals in Nakeli for directions). Although the road is somewhat rough, it’s an excellent route for off-road mountain biking, with very little traffic. The initial part involves a 10-kilometer uphill ride, followed by a 13-kilometer downhill ride to Pu’er City. Pu’er City is known as the “Tea City of China.” The Meizi Lake Scenic Area near the city outskirts offers a great cycling route and scenic views of the Tea City. - Accommodation: The Industrial and Commercial Hotel opposite the new bus station offers decent standard rooms for 40-50 yuan. The Technology Hotel in the city center is also an option. If camping, Meizi Lake and Xinfang Reservoir are both excellent choices.
Day 2: Pu’er (Simao) – Dadugang via the old National Highway 213, about 75 kilometers. Start your day with a mostly downhill ride to Manxieba, where you can find plenty of fruits. After Manxieba, the route is lined with modern tea and coffee plantations. After crossing the overpass on the highway, there’s a 2-kilometer uphill section, followed by a downhill ride to Puwen Town. Puwen is the northern gateway to Xishuangbanna, with beautiful Dai villages visible around the valley. After lunch, challenge yourself with a 20-kilometer uphill ride. About 12 kilometers before reaching Dadugang, the roadside forest becomes denser, marking the true beginning of your beautiful journey through Xishuangbanna.
- Dadugang Township is located atop a mountain ridge surrounded by pristine forests. The air is fresh, and the climate is cool. China’s largest and most spectacular modern tea plantation, covering tens of thousands of acres, is nestled within this forest. You can stay at the well-maintained guesthouse of the state-owned tea factory in Dadugang. Watching the sunrise over the tea plantation is an unforgettable experience, and camping in the tea garden is even safer!
Day 3: Dadugang – Mengyang, 55 KM, via the old National Highway 213. From Mengyang (also known as Little Mengyang), it’s 25 KM to Jinghong, taking the newly built secondary road (a gentle uphill for 6 KM to the Kunming-Bangkok Highway junction, where you can turn off towards Mengla. Then, it’s a 13 KM downhill ride to Jinghong). Start your day at 7:00 AM, enjoying the spectacular sunrise over the modern tea plantation. After breakfast, depart from Dadugang, beginning with a series of undulating forested roads, followed by a 12 KM continuous downhill ride through pristine forests to Guanping. From there, you’ll ride along a small river with gentle ups and downs, as the road passes through the Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Area (entrance fee: 60 yuan, cable car: 80 yuan). This scenic road combines tourism, ecology, and environmental protection, but be sure to control your speed to avoid colliding with elephants! Then, it’s about 16 kilometers of ups and downs to reach Mengyang Town.
- Mengyang Town is a relatively large market town with plenty of food options around the marketplace. You can also visit the Elephant Tree Park, located in the town center, with no entrance fee. The park is small, but the few unique banyan trees are worth a visit. The town is also surrounded by many Dai villages, such as Huayao Dai Village and Simao Zhaijie. If you have time, take a ride to explore these beautiful villages. (You can also continue on the old National Highway 213 to reach Jinghong, but as the route mostly passes through rubber plantations with dull scenery, steep hills, and large slopes, it’s not the best choice.) Taking the secondary road will take you through the Pristine Forest Park, a man-made scenic spot not worth a visit. After arriving in Jinghong, enjoy the view of the Dai city’s sunset and the Mekong River’s evening glow. For dinner, indulge in Dai cuisine. Accommodation: Jinghong hotels.
Additional Information:
The Kunming-Bangkok Highway is 1,818 kilometers long, with 688 kilometers within Yunnan. The 185-kilometer secondary road from Little Mengyang to Mohan opened in early 2008 (the entire route was completed in December 2008). Bicycles are allowed on the road, but since there are many tunnels, bring a good bike light. The 247-kilometer section within Laos was completed by the end of 2009. The over 800-kilometer section in Thailand was fully completed earlier.
Mohan is about 60 kilometers from Mengla City, with a bus fare of 18 yuan per person. Customs hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. An international bus runs from Mengla to Vientiane, with departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the one-way fare is 160 yuan.
In Xishuangbanna, most roads are asphalted, with some rural roads and agricultural roads remaining dirt roads. During the rainy season, especially from May to October, unpaved roads may become muddy, making cycling very challenging.
