2 Days Lincang Tea Culture Tour with Ancient Tea Road Hiking

Yunnan Tea Tours offer visits to the most renowned tea mountains and plantations in Yunnan Province, the birthplace of Pu’er Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Wondering how to organize a tea tour in Yunnan? The Yunnan Tea Travel Tips will be invaluable for your tea journey in China.

Introduction

Journey along the Ancient Tea Horse Road to discover tea plantations and local tea factories in Dali, Lincang, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna. For thousands of years, Chinese tea has served as a beverage, pastime, cultural icon, and a source of enjoyment. It spread to other parts of the world via the Silk Road and Tea & Horse Road, alongside silk and porcelain. Immerse yourself in Chinese tea culture by exploring mist-covered mountains and plantations, while also visiting magnificent palaces and historical landmarks. Highlights of your Yunnan tea tour will include Pu’er Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Yunnan tea culture tours provide an in-depth look at Chinese tea, offering the chance to savor various famous teas in the region.

Highlight

  • Explore Tea Plantations: Visit the renowned tea plantations in Dali, Lincang, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna, where you’ll learn about the cultivation and processing of Dianhong Black Tea and Pu’er Tea.
  • Hike the Ancient Tea Horse Road: Experience the historic trade route that once connected Yunnan with Tibet and beyond, offering stunning landscapes and a glimpse into the past.
  • Tea Factory Tours: Discover local tea factories and witness the traditional methods of tea production, from leaf picking to processing and packaging.
  • Cultural Immersion: Engage with local tea farmers and participate in tea-tasting sessions to understand the unique flavors and qualities of Yunnan’s famous teas.
  • Historical Sites: Visit significant cultural and historical landmarks along the route, including ancient temples, palaces, and traditional villages.
  • Scenic Beauty: Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Yunnan’s mist-covered mountains, lush green valleys, and picturesque landscapes.
  • Tea Ceremonies: Experience authentic Chinese tea ceremonies and learn about the rich cultural heritage associated with tea drinking.
  • Local Cuisine: Savor the diverse and delicious local cuisine, often paired with different varieties of tea to enhance your culinary experience.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1 Lincang-Mengku
  • Day 2 Mengku-Lincang

Details Itinerary

Day 1: Lincang-Mengku-Bingdao-Mengku-Xigui-Lincang

Sightseeing and Activities: Mengku Township, Luhu tribal village, f Bingdao including Dijie, Bingdao Laozhai, Bawai, Nanpo and Nuowu Village, Enjoy BIngdao Puerh Tea
Accommodation: Dahusai Village
Meals: Breakfast

  • Early Morning Drive to Bingdao Village
    • Begin the early morning with a drive to Mengku Township, followed by a journey to Bingdao Village (冰岛), a Lahu tribal village surrounded by verdant mountains.
    • This village is the birthplace of tea cultivation in China. Here, you will encounter several massive ancient tea trees that are over 2000 years old.
    • This rare and unique village is home to the Lahu people, who are known for their colorful traditional attire.
  • Exploring the villages of Bingdao
    • Visit the five villages of Bingdao, which include Dijie (地界), Bingdao Laozhai (冰岛老寨), Bawai (坝歪), Nanpo (南迫), and Nuowu Village (糯五). Experience the traditional tea-making process in Dijie Village and enjoy a lunch there.
    • Bing Dao Puerh derives its name from Bing Dao Village in Mengku County, Yunnan Province, China. The name Bing Dao means “a village with a bamboo gate” in Thai.
    • The local villagers, primarily from the Thai tribe, have a documented history of tea cultivation dating back to the 15th century. Bing Dao tea is made from ancient tea trees (gu shu) that are over 300 years old and is traditionally stone-pressed.
    • The trees thrive on the sunny side of Bang Ma Mountain, at altitudes over 2500 meters above sea level. This high mountain tea brews sweet, rich, and refreshingly smooth, with almost no astringency.
    • It has a lasting sweet after-taste (huigan) and is sheng jin in character, meaning it leaves the palate feeling quenched. The fragrance is lightly citrusy and floral, with a hint of wild honey.
    • The Bing Dao cake is made with old tea leaves and is an excellent candidate for further aging.
  • Afternoon Drive to Xiaohuisai and Dahusai Village
    • In the afternoon, drive to Xiaohusai (小户赛) Tea Village and then to Dahusai Village. Stay overnight in a local hostel in the tea mountain.

Day 2: Bingdao-Mengku Daxueshan Mountain Hiking-Mengku-Lincang

Sightseeing and Activities: Daxueshan Mountain, Primitive Forest,  Kengku Town, Dahusai VIalle, Ancient Tea Protection Station, Observation Tower, Wild Ancent Tea Trea Forest
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast

  • Tour Route:Depart from Mengku Town
    • Pass through Dahusai Village (大户赛村)
    • Visit the Ancient Tea Protection Station (古茶树群落保护管理所)
    • Ascend to the Observation Tower (瞭望塔)
    • Explore the Wild Ancient Tea Tree Forest (古茶树群落)
    • The Mengku Big Snow Mountain area in Lincang is a high-altitude region known for its numerous tea gardens. This exceptional black tea is carefully processed from the first flush of spring Assamica tea leaves, harvested from plantation bushes aged 30 to 40 years, naturally growing at an altitude of 1800 meters.
    • You will drive to Dahusai Village and commence a 4-kilometer hiking tour to the Ancient Tea Protection Station (古茶树群落保护管理所), followed by a 3-kilometer hike to the Observation Tower (瞭望塔), and a 2-hour trek to the Wild Ancient Tea Tree Forest (古茶树群落) in Mengku Snow Mountain.
    • Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the forest before hiking back to Bingdao Village in the afternoon.
  • Return to Lincang City 
    • Be free to explore Lincang City.

Service Included:

1. Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
2. Meals as listed in the itinerary;
3.Accommodation with breakfast as listed in the itinerary;
4.Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
5.Service charge & government taxes;
6. Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
7. Two bottles of mineral water each day;
8.Travel Agency’s Responsibility Insurance.
9. Train tickets from Kunming to Dali;
10.Domestic air tickets from Puer to Kunming(Economy Class).

Service Excluded:

1.Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
2.Chinese visa fees;
3.Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
4.Single room supplement;
5.Tips to guides and drivers;
6.Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
7.Personal travel accident insurance;
8.All optional programs.