7 Days XishuangBanna and Puer Tea Culture Tour
Tour Overview
Yunnan, especially Xishuangbanna and Simao areas in the south of Yunnan, is the hometown of tea, which can be proved by either aged wild tea trees growing in dense...
Code of Tour: YET0000008285
Length of Travel: 7 Day
Destinations of Tour: Jinghong-Menghai-Lancang-Menglian-Puer
Departure City: Jinghong
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: Nature Culture Minorities Tea
Yunnan, especially Xishuangbanna and Simao areas in the south of Yunnan, is the hometown of tea, which can be proved by either aged wild tea trees growing in dense forest or by various local traditions related to tea consumption. Around 1000 years ago ethnic minority tribes in Yunnan began to domesticate wild tea plants for drinking, in long period of development, tea has become not only a kind of popular drink, a profitable business or industry, but also a foundation on which unique culture formed. With tea plantation, production and consumption as clue, we made this itinerary, which would take you to explore how this culture was, is and will be.
Highlights
- Experience Chinese tea culture by exploring mist-covered mountains and plantations.
- Discover the first-hand mysterious lure of tea and tour the botanical garden.
- Enjoy the charming sceneries, take some wonderful pictures and experience local ethnic cultures.
Breif Itinerary
- Day 1 Jinghong-Menghai
- Day 2 Menghai-Jingmai-Lancang-Menglian
- Day 3 Menglian-Bangwei-Lancang
- Day 4 Lancang-Puer
- Day 5 Puer-Jinghong
- Day 6 Jinghong-Menglun-Yiwu
- Day 7 Yiwu-Menglun-Jinghong
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Jinghong-Menghai
Sightseeing and Activities:Jinghong-Menghai
Accommodation: Menghai
Meals: Lunch
Starting from Jinghong, drive to Mount Nannuo, see ancient tea plantation aged over 800 years of Aini people, Aini, who have been engaged in tea-planting here for centuries, visit their village and taste roasted tea they prepared in unique way, through chat we may discover how much Aini people rely on tea. Move on to Menghai, pay visit to small tea workshop in the village to learn about how fresh tea leaves are processed. Further transfer into mountainous area to Bada, do some hiking across forest to worship the King of Wild Tea Tree aged over 1700 years. On late afternoon drive back to Menghai. Stay in Menghai.
Day 2 Menghai-Jingmai-Lancang-Menglian
Sightseeing and Activities:Menghai-Jingmai-Lancnag-Menglian
Accommodation: Shangyun
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning drive in the north to Jingmai, see the ancient tea plantation aged over 800 years, plantation was cultivated by Pu, the ancestor of Bulang Nationality today, Pu was the earliest ethnic group who began to domesticate wild tea plant for drinking in Yunnan. In the area thousands of aged tea trees in wildness are still lush and producing buds, for long term plantation is under natural state without farmer’s taking care, output is low, but very organic and with pretty high quality. In the afternoon long drive to Shangyun via Lancang. Stay in Shangyun, at simple local hotel or guesthouse.
Day 3 Menglian-Bangwei-Lancang
Sightseeing and Activities:Menglian-Bangwei-Lancang
Accommodation: Lancang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive up mountain to Banwei, a small village lying on hillside with an elevation of around 1900 meters, we will see a tea tree aged over 1000 years here, different from the King of Wild Tea Tree and 800-year-old tea trees in ancient plantation, this is a breed between wild and domesticated, with obvious features of the both, it’s taken as a very important evidence improving that local ethnic groups tried to plant wild tea for drinking as early as 1000 years ago. In the afternoon transfer back to Lancang, en route if have more time, do some random stops for visiting ethnic villages. Stay in Lancang.
Day 4 Lancang-Puer
Sightseeing and Activities:Lancang-Puer
Accommodation: Pu’er
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Move to Pu’er along mountainous road and across the upriver Mekong. After arrival in the afternoon, drive to see the ancient tea caravan way that still winds its way on ridges of mountains, of which the paving stones are still telling people the former prosperity of tea trade along this trail, pay visit to ethnic village around and family who used to run hostel specially for tea transporting caravans to discover some stories about tea trade in the past. Further to Ninger, a small town after which famous Pu’er Tea was named, it once was the tea distribution center of South Yunnan. Return Pu’er for stay.
Day 5 Puer-Jinghong
Sightseeing and Activities:Puer-Jinghong
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit Tea Culture Park near Pu’er, see how tea is processed and taste Pu’er Tea. Pu’er Tea is actually a kind of green tea, the difference is it’s slightly fermented, naturally through store of certain term, normally 7-8 years, or artificially by certain technology, fermentation makes it taste milder and softer, so well accepted by most people. Later get on the way back to Jingong. Stop en route to enjoy view of vast tea plantation near Dadugan, another famous tea producing area. In addition drop in Wild Elephant Valley, take cable lift above jungle for forest view and some relaxation. Stay in Jinghong.
Day 6 Jinghong-Menglun-Yiwu
Sightseeing and Activities:Jinghong-Menglun-Yiwu
Accommodation: Yiwu Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Go along the Mekong to Ganlanba, a major residential area of Dai People, see a lively daily market where local people sell or buy food and other native products. Drive to Yiwu, a small town once boomed due to tea trade in the history, see the old part of town and the stele erected in Qing Dynasty that recorded the trade situation at that time, pay visit to local families that are still producing Pu’er Tea the traditional way. Visit the Yiwu Mountain Tea Plantation and Puer tea factory. Stay in Yiwu Town.
Day 7 Yiwu-Menglun-Jinghong
Sightseeing and Activities:Yiwu-Menglun-Jinghong
Accommodation: Jinghong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy morning freshness in the botanical garden, have a relaxing walk in natural zone for a short experience, learn the great bio-diversity of rainforest, later leave botanical garden for Jinuo Mountain Area, visit Jinuo People, who uniquely belongs to this region, is the last ethnic nationality classified by Chinese Government in 1979. See the ancient tea plantations around Jinuo village, which used to be one of Six Great Tea Mountains reputed as the cradles of famous Pu’er Tea, try Wrap-charcoaled Tea and Salad Tea Jinuo people prepare in their traditional way. Back to Jinghong. Tour ends.
Recommended Hotels
| Destination | 5 Star | 4 Star | 3 Star | Hostels |
| Menghai | Menghai Laburno Hotels and Resorts | Menghai Guowei Hotel | Jinglong White Elephant Hotel Menghai County | Local Hostel |
| Menglian | Silver Lake Island Hotel | / | Chunlin Hotel Menglian County | Shangyun |
| Lancang | / | Local Hostel | ||
| Puer | Meizihu Lake Hot Spring Hotel | Jingland Hotel | Basai City Hotel | Local Hostel |
| Jinghong | Century Golden Resources Hotel | Dai Garden Hotel | Duchang Hotel | Local Hostel |
| Yiwu | / | Local Hostel |
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;
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.
That was really an excellent experience! I have always had a great desire for China and have been passionate about Chinese tea culture. So this time I chose the Xishuangbanna and Puer Tea Culture Tour. There was no doubt that I visited the whole process of tea from growing to picking to roasting and also tasted authentic Chinese tea. I felt my whole body and mind were cleansed! By the way, it was worth mentioning that the accommodation was a highlight of the whole trip. Each of the hotels we stayed in was very clean and attentive within easy walking distance of the sights, making it more convenient for our outings. Throughout this trip, I was satisfied with the service and arrangements of this travel agency. If I have the chance to visit China in the future, I will choose it again!!!