Detailed Itinerary for the “Into Menghai Ancient Tea Mountain” Boutique Route

Day 1: Journey to Menghai’s Tea Mountains

8:00 AM – Departure from Jinghong (景洪)

• Jinghong (景洪) is the capital city of Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), located in the southern part of Yunnan Province (云南省). The city is known for its tropical climate, diverse cultures, and rich tea heritage. Prepare for a scenic 2.5-hour drive through lush tea plantations and dense forests on your way to the tea mountains.

10:30 AM – Arrival at Gelanghe and Nannuo Mountain (格朗和南糯山)

• Gelanghe (格朗和) is a peaceful village near Nannuo Mountain (南糯山), known for its ancient tea gardens.
• Nannuo Mountain is one of the oldest and largest tea-growing regions in Xishuangbanna. The tea trees here are considered the “Ancient Tea Kings” due to their 800-year-old history.
• Visit the ancient tea fields, where you’ll learn about traditional tea cultivation methods, including hand-plucking tea leaves and processing the leaves in traditional ways.
• Explore the Nannuo Ancient Tea Forest and hike through the lush landscape to witness stunning views of the tea gardens that stretch across the mountainside.

12:00 PM – Lunch at Menghun Restaurant (勐混餐厅) to Taste Dai-flavored Cuisine

• Enjoy a traditional Dai (傣族) lunch, a refreshing and light meal typically featuring rice, fresh vegetables, and unique regional dishes like grilled fish, spicy curries, and herbal salads.
• The Dai people, known for their warm hospitality, will introduce you to the vibrant and refreshing flavors that define their cuisine.

1:30 PM – Visit to Menghun HeKai Ancient Tea Garden (勐混贺开古茶园)

• HeKai Ancient Tea Garden is located in Menghun (勐混), home to one of the oldest tea gardens in Xishuangbanna. This area is known for its exceptional tea production methods that adhere strictly to traditional practices.
• The tea gardens here cover thousands of acres, and visitors can experience the charm of ancient tea cultivation methods, including the traditional hand-picking and hand-processing of tea leaves.
• Learn about the Lahu (拉祜族) ethnic group, who have lived in harmony with the tea plants for centuries, preserving the ecological balance in the area.

2:30 PM – Visit to Browns Mountain Old BanZhang (布朗山老班章)

• Browns Mountain Old BanZhang is known as the “Tea King” of Xishuangbanna. The tea from this area is considered one of the best and is highly sought after for its rich taste and quality.
• Explore the ancient tea trees and learn about the unique cultivation techniques used to produce Pu’er tea (普洱茶).
• Taste some of the finest Pu’er tea while learning about its production process, which has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
• This is also the perfect opportunity to understand why BanZhang tea is called the “King of Pu’er Tea” in the tea industry.

5:30 PM – Enjoy Hani Ethnic (哈尼族) Cuisine

• Enjoy an authentic Hani meal, known for its flavorful and spicy dishes. The Hani people, who have inhabited the region for centuries, are known for their rice dishes, such as Hani-style sticky rice, and for their rich, savory sauces made from local ingredients like chili peppers, ginger, and herbs.
• Local specialties include steamed fish, bamboo shoots, and wild mushrooms, all prepared with a unique Hani touch.

Day 2: Exploring the Ancient Tea Mountains and Cultural Immersion

9:00 AM – Depart from Browns Mountain Village (布朗山乡)

• After a restful night in a local guesthouse or tea lodge, depart from Browns Mountain for your journey to more ancient tea villages.

10:00 AM – Arrival at Browns Mountain Old Man’e (布朗山老曼峨)

• Old Man’e Village (老曼峨村) is famous for its Old Man’e tea, which is renowned for its powerful and deep flavors. The village is nestled in the forests of Browns Mountain, and the tea gardens here have been preserved for generations using traditional tea cultivation techniques.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the tea plantations, where you can learn about the special methods used in this region to produce some of the finest Pu’er tea in Xishuangbanna.

11:30 AM – Visit to Browns Mountain Baka Nan (布朗山坝卡囡) (Dayi’s 10,000-acre Tea Garden)

• Baka Nan is home to Dayi’s 10,000-acre Tea Garden, which is one of the largest tea estates in the region. The plantation is known for its high-quality tea and the unique techniques used to produce and process the tea leaves.
• You’ll have the chance to see how the tea is harvested on such a large scale and experience the tea-making process from start to finish.
• Take a guided walk through the gardens to see how different types of tea are produced and to enjoy the picturesque views of the tea plantations.

12:30 PM – Lunch and Enjoy Browns Ethnic (布朗族) Specialty Cuisine

• After visiting Baka Nan, take a break and enjoy a traditional Browns meal. The Browns (布朗族) people are known for their hearty, meat-based dishes, often including wild game and various herbs and spices native to the region.
• One of the popular dishes you will try is Browns-style roasted pork, seasoned with local spices, and accompanied by tea-flavored rice or wild vegetables.

3:00 PM – Explore Tea Horse Road Scenic Area (茶马古道景区)

• The Tea Horse Road Scenic Area is a must-visit for any tea lover. This historical route, once used for transporting tea from Yunnan to Tibet and Southeast Asia, is now a fascinating tourist site.
• You can participate in handmade tea-making experiences here, where skilled artisans will show you how to craft Pu’er tea from leaf to cup using traditional methods.
• Enjoy Pu’er tea tastings in the scenic surroundings and learn about the fascinating history of the Tea Horse Road and its importance in the region’s tea trade.

5:30 PM – Dinner Featuring Pu’er Tea Dishes

• End your day with a Pu’er tea-themed dinner. Many dishes in Xishuangbanna incorporate tea as an ingredient, and you’ll be treated to a unique dinner that highlights the many ways tea can be used in cooking.
• Dishes may include Pu’er tea-infused soups, tea-cooked meats, and tea cakes, offering an unforgettable culinary experience.

Final Thoughts on the Itinerary:

This 2-day itinerary offers a deep dive into the tea culture of Menghai County (勐海县) and the surrounding regions of Xishuangbanna (西双版纳). Not only will you explore ancient tea mountains and experience the rich history and culture of Pu’er tea (普洱茶), but you will also be immersed in the diverse ethnic cultures of the Hani (哈尼族), Dai (傣族), Lahu (拉祜族), and Browns (布朗族) people. Through tea-tasting sessions, guided walks, and cultural experiences, this itinerary is a dream come true for tea enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike.

Route Features:

Nannuo Ancient Tea Mountain (南糯古茶山)

Nannuo Mountain is one of the oldest and largest ancient tea-growing regions in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), with a total area of about 12,000 acres. It has long been considered a sacred mountain by tea enthusiasts, both domestically and internationally. The region is renowned for its 800-year-old cultivated tea trees (人工栽培型茶王树), which bear testament to the long history of tea cultivation in Yunnan (云南). Nannuo Mountain is also the birthplace of mechanical tea processing in the province, marking it as a historical cornerstone for the tea industry.

HeKai Ancient Tea Mountain (贺开古茶山):

HeKai Ancient Tea Mountain is one of the oldest tea-growing areas in Xishuangbanna, covering over 16,000 acres. The core of the HeKai Tea Mountain area includes three Lahu ethnic (拉祜族) villages: Manmai (曼迈), Manlong Laozhai (曼弄老寨), and Manlong Xinzai (曼弄新寨). For centuries, the local Lahu people have maintained traditional methods of tea tree cultivation, carefully preserving the purity and quality of their tea by harvesting fresh leaves according to local customs, and processing them with traditional hand-made techniques.

Banpen Ancient Tea Mountain (班盆古茶山):

Located in Banpen Old Village (班盆老寨村), Hekai Village (贺开村), Menghun Town (勐混镇), Menghai County (勐海县), Banpen Tea Mountain adheres strictly to the principle of “original ecology, original origin, and local processing”. The tea produced here is known for its natural, pure quality, following the traditional methods of tea cultivation and processing that have been passed down through generations.

Banzhang Ancient Tea Mountain (班章古茶山):

Located in the Browns Mountain (布朗山) area in Menghai County (勐海县), Banzhang Village (班章村), this ancient tea mountain is one of the most renowned in Xishuangbanna. The mountain is divided into the Old Banzhang (老班章) and New Banzhang (新班章) villages, where Han (哈尼族) and Browns (布朗族) ethnic groups have cultivated tea for centuries. Banzhang tea is considered a top-tier Pu’er tea and is often referred to as the “king of Pu’er tea” in the tea industry. The tea gardens cover an area of 5,870 acres, offering the finest tea leaves grown in the lush forests surrounding the villages.

Old Man’e Ancient Tea Mountain (老曼峨古茶山):

Situated in Old Man’e Village (老曼峨村), Browns Mountain (布朗山), Menghai County (勐海县), Old Man’e Tea Mountain is part of the Browns Mountain Ancient Tea Area, one of the oldest tea regions in Xishuangbanna. This region strictly follows the principle of “original ecology, original origin, and local processing”, producing high-quality, traditional Pu’er tea (普洱茶).

Target Audience:

This route is designed for tea enthusiasts and lovers. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the distinct cultures and cuisines of the Hani (哈尼族), Dai (傣族), Lahu (拉祜族), and Browns (布朗族) ethnic groups. Along the way, they will also enjoy the unique tea-tasting experiences and cultural performances. There are inns and guesthouses along the route for visitors to relax and rest.

The “Into Menghai Ancient Tea Mountain” boutique route offers an immersive experience of Xishuangbanna’s (西双版纳) rich tea culture, unique landscapes, and indigenous ethnic customs. This route provides a perfect opportunity for tea lovers to explore the ancient tea mountains, taste a variety of Pu’er tea (普洱茶), and discover the ethnic diversity of Menghai County (勐海县) through hands-on experiences and authentic local cuisine.