Mengku Snow Mountain No. 1 Ancient Tea Tree in Shuangjiang County, Lincang
Mengku Daxueshan: Home to Ancient Tea Trees
Mengku Daxueshan, located in Mengku Town, Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, boasts a main peak that rises over 3,200 meters above sea level. The ancient tea tree communities are distributed along the mountainside at altitudes between 2,200 and 2,750 meters. With an average annual temperature below 11 degrees Celsius and an annual rainfall of approximately 2,000 millimeters, the region’s exceptional natural conditions foster the growth of tea trees.
Discovery of Ancient Tea Trees
No. 1 Ancient Tea Tree of Mengku Snow Mountain in Shuangjiang County, Lincang (勐库大雪山1号古茶树 ), estimated to be around 2,700 years old, is located on the western edge of Lincang City and Shuangjiang County, near the border with Gengma County. This area lies along the southern extension of the Hengduan Mountains, known locally as Bangma Mountain, with the main peak named Mengku Daxueshan.
The wild ancient tea tree community in Shuangjiang’s Mengku Daxueshan remained unknown to the world until a drought in 1997 led to its discovery. These wild tea trees represent a more primitive species than the cultivated Pu’er tea varieties, possessing all the morphological characteristics and functional components of tea trees. Mengku’s ancient wild tea trees are considered one of the world’s centers of tea tree origin. Among the discovered ancient tea trees, the 2,700-year-old No. 1 tree stands out as the oldest known ancient tea tree to date. Located at an altitude of 2,720 meters, this remarkable tree stands 16.8 meters tall with a base circumference of 3.25 meters and a chest circumference of 3.1 meters.
Significance and Pilgrimage
Standing beneath the No. 1 Ancient Tea Tree and gazing up at its dense foliage inspires a profound sense of reverence. It is awe-inspiring to realize that a tea tree takes approximately 500 years to reach the height of an average adult. Each year, countless tea enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to this site to witness this magnificent tree. The Mengku Daxueshan ancient tea tree community, and particularly the No. 1 tree, draws numerous visitors who come to pay homage to these natural wonders, underscoring the deep cultural and historical significance of tea in this region.
