Travel Tips of Yunnan Tea Primogenitor Culture Tour

Tea Primogenitor in Yunnan

Global tea culture origins from China, Shennong is honored as the very first primogenitor of tea. However, instead of Shennong, Kongming(Known as Zhuge Liang among Chinese)is regarded as the tea primogenitor in Yunnan. Historical stories tell that when Kongming led his army to Yunnan, most soldiers were sick due to the poisoning local mist, then Kongming dreamed of an elderly in white and was told that tea would help curing the soldiers. Tea actually worked and brought the army victory. Kongming decided to plant tea in Yunnan in memory of that elderly in white and also to develop local agriculture.

In the ancient tea plantation section of Yunnan remain Kongming Mt.and Kongming Tea. Natives hold the tea primogenitor ceremony every year to celebrate the birthday of Kongming on 23rd of the 7th lunar month.

Besides Kongming, some ethnic groups in Yunnan tea producing area also worship ancient tea trees or local Guardians of mountains. Bulang villages worship their ancestor Pa Aileng, who had been considered to be the first Bulong people planted tea.

Ring Route of Tea Culture (Recommended Route)

15 Days Journey

Kunming-(5.2h/385km)-Ning’er-(0.8h/46km)-Pu’er-(4h/203km)-Yiwu-(4h/162km)-Menghai-(2.5h/113km)-Langcang-(2.6h/102km)-Ximeng-(5.3h/218km)-Shuangjiang-(3.7h/192km)-Fengqing-(7.5h/285km)-Zhenyuan-(5.5h/125km)-Jinggu-(3.5h/213km)-Mojiang-(3.7h/267km)-Kunming

7 Days Journey

Route A:

Kunming-(5.2h/385km)-Ning’er-(0.8h/46km)-Pu’er-(2.6h/136km)-Jinggu-(5.3h/279km)-Fengqing-(7.3h/285km)-Zhenyuan-(6.2h/450km)-Kunming

Route B:

Kunming-(5.2h/385km)-Ning’er-（0.8h/46km)-Pu’er-(4h/203km)-Yiwu-(4h/162km)-Menghai-(2.5h/113km)-Langcang-(2.6h/102km)-Ximeng-(11.2h/689km)-Kunming

3 Days Journey

Kunming-(5.2h/385km)-Ning’er-(0.8h/46km)-Pu’er-(5.8h/418km)-Kunming

 

Trip to Tea Mountains(Recommended Scenic Spots)

Pu’er 

Jingmai Mangjing Ancient Tea Plantation of Ten Thousand Acres

The plantation projects locates in Huimin Town, Langcang County of Pu’er. It’s the best protected and largest remaining artificial cultivation tea plantation all over the world, honored as the Natural Tea Museum as a historical witness of the development of Chinese tea culture. The plantation is considered as an important display of tea cultural tourism in Langcang, and it’s listed as the first batch of “Chinese Folk Cultural Heritage Tourism Demonstration Area”.

Over 20km to Huimin Town which is 47km away from Langcang County.

Qianjiazhai Wild Ancient Tea Tree Groups

Wild tea tree groups in Zhenyuan County seat Located at latitude 24 degrees 7 minutes,east longitude 101 degrees 14minutes, with an altitude of 2100~2500m, covering an area of 28747.5 acres among the primeval forest in Ailao Mt. National Nature Reserve which is the largest and best protected subtropical wet broad-leaved forest.

King of wild tea trees is 25.6m tall and its diameter at breast is 0.89m, known as #1 Shangba. According to experts’ opinion, this tree is over 2700 years old, it’s the oldest wild tea tree known so far thus it’s called the King of wild tea trees, won the Guinness World Records in 2001.

 

Kunlushan Mt. Royal Ancient Tea Plantation

Kunlushan Mt. was once the royal tribute tea producing area, the picking and making processes of tribute tea are supervised by troops. Almost all kinds of wild tea trees distribute within the virgin forest covering 10122 acres. Kulunshan Mt. is also the nearest tea plantation to Kunming with the most convenient traffic conditions.

Yingpanshan Mt. Tea Plantation

Yingpanshan Mt. obtains the nearest tea plantation to Pu’er city. The distribution of tea covers an area of 23 thousand acres, tea plantation goes ups and downs along with the mountains. On the highest peak of Yingpanshan Mt. seats Wenchalou Tower, and the only Pu’er Tea theme park in China, known as China Tea Expo Garden. Tourists could take park in the making process of Pu’er Tea, or learn more about tea culture and try a cup of refreshing fragrant tea.

Xishuangbanna

Bada Tea Plantation in Menghai

Speaking of Bada, the Bulang people consider it as “where the immortals left footprints” in their language. It’s a famous place among tea fans in China and abroad. In 1962, Yunnan Institution of Tea found an ancient wild tea tree over 1700 year old in virgin forest beside Hesong Village in Bada, experts and tea fans hand been visiting this place almost every year since then. Bada obtains most of wild tea trees in Xishuangbanna, the original tea trees grow in an area over 6000 acres. There are also large artificial cultivation tea [FS:Page]plantation in Bada, which distribute in villages like Zhanglang, Manmai, Manpi and Manpana.

Nannuoshan Mt.

Nannuoshan Mt. seats in Menghai, Xishuangbanna is one of the six major tea plantation mountains in Yunnan, Nannuoshan is also called as the very village of ancient tea trees in Yunnan, known for its rich resource of ancient trees. Various kinds of tea trees grow among Nannuoshan Mt. the hybrid growth of the tea trees covers an area of over 1000 acres, Banpo Old Village and Bama Village are the typical ones.

Yiwu Ancient Tea Plantation

It’s the largest one among the six major tea plantations in Yunnan. Yiwu obtains a long history of planting, producing and trading tea, during the latter period of the Qing Dynasty, Yiwu had become the producing and trading center of tea in Yunnan. The Yiwu Tea Plantation is often described as “tea trees cover the mountains, tea planted in every village”. Ancient tea trees mainly distribute in Mahei and Yiwu Village.

Menghai Hekai Ancient Tea Plantation

Hekai Ancient Tea Plantation seats in the southeastern region of Menghun Town in Menghai County with an altitude of 1400~1700m, share the same mountain range of the famous Laobanzhang Tea Plantation. It’s one of the best-protected and the largest contiguous tea plantations in China. Cultivation tea tree distribute in an area of 8700 acres. Six Lahu villages locate among the plantation, ancient tea trees grow around the houses of the villagers, forming a picture of people and nature live together in harmony as “tea trees in the woods, villages in the tea gardens”, which makes Hekai the most beautiful tea plantation.

Dadugang Tea Plantation of Thousands Acres

The plantation seats in Dadugang County of Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture. It has a tea garden over 75 thousand acres, the world’s largest contiguous tea garden of 42 acres brought the title of the Top Ten Most Beautiful Tea Gardens of China in 2013. Every March to October is the best time to travel, tea leaves grow after the spring rainfalls, fresh air of tea fills the plantation area, makes tourists comfortable.

Lincang

Queen of the Ancient Tea in Fengqing Xiangzhuqing Valley

Fengqing County of Lincang obtains rich resources of ancient tea trees, it has a cultivation tea plantation over 2000 acres and a wild tea plantation over 3000 acres. The plantations distribute in a region reaching Longtanghe River in the east end, Tengmieshanhe River in the west end, Zhafanghe River in the north end, and Huangcaoba Dam in the south end, with an altitude of 1750~2580m. On the highest peak of Xiangzhuqing Valley grows the world’s oldest giant tea tree of 3200 years. The giant tea tree is called the Splendid Tea Primogenitor by local natives and the Queen of the Ancient Tea by researchers. It stands for the ancient cultivation tea trees in Fengqing, as well as the global largest ancient tea tree with a chest diameter of 1.84m that surrounded by 8 men.

Worshiping the Tea Primogenitor

Shankang Tea Primogenitor Festival of the Bulang Ethnic in Jingmai

“Shankang Tea Primogenitor Festival” is a traditional celebration of the primitive Bulang religion in Jingshan Mt. In every mid April, right after the collecting of spring tea, villagers in Jingmang Bulang villages dress on festive costumes and gather at the temple square of Payanleng, to hold worship activities and recall the spirits of tea, the celebration has a history of over 1710 years. The Bulang people believe that the spirits of tea are either human and immortals, the spirits are recalled in hope of guarding and blessing the Bulang people in the coming years. Tourists with interests might enjoy the Bulang culture and the tea culture by viewing Jingmaishan Mt..

Hani Tea Primogenitor Festival in Kunlushan

The Hani people in Kunlushan Tea Plantation mainly live on planting tea, there is a worshiping celebration for Kongming, the tea primogenitor and the ancestor of local people, among the local Hani people and even the Dai and Yao people far away in Xishangbanna. On the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month and the Kunu Festival on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month, the Hani people pray to the King Tea Tree by sacrificing pigs, ox, chickens, and goats. Clergies called “Abumubi” are inquired to pray and worship the tea tree carrying a red cock and burning incenses in front of the tree.

China Pu’er Tea Festival Events

China Pu’er Tea Festival took place on 23rd May 2015 in Pu’er City. The theme of the events is “Godsend Pu’er of Talent, Tea Origin of Worldwide, Preserving the Culture and Protecting the Heritages”. The events are co-hosted by China Cultural Institute, Pu’er Government, and Humanistic Religious Research Branch of Beijing Normal University. Celebrating events including Openi[FS:Page]ng Ceremony, Worshiping Tea Primogenitor Ceremony, Chine Tea Culture Summit Forum, Pu’er Tea Competition, Pu’er Tea Products Trade Fair, Pu’er Specialties Exhibition, the Inscription Support Event of Pu’er Jingmaishan Ancient Tea Plantation, and so on.

Recommended Delicacies

Pu’er 

Beef Salad, Roasted Pupae, Traditional Dai Flavor Boiled Rice Noodle

Xishuangbanna

Purple Rice Steamed with Pineapple, Dai Flavor Barbecue, Jinuo Style Tea Salad

Lincang

Roasted Suckling Pig, Wa Style Chicken Porridge

Recommended Restaurants

Pu’er

Golden Shore Dai Flavor

Add: Shilong Rd. Simao Dist.

Tel: 0879-2163339

consumption per person: ￥40.00

 

Zhous’ Manor

Add: Simao Yangguang Rd. Simao Dist.

Tel: 0879-2140808

Business Hour: 0900am-2030pm

 

Lao Guai’s Soak Chicken Claws

Tel: 0879-2135758

 

Xishuangbanna

Guhua Tuji Roasted Chicken(Menghai Fochen Tuji Roasted Chicken)

Add: #105 Grand Temple, Manhe Village in Menghai County

Tel: 0691-5138811

Business Hour: 0900am-2200pm

 

Linsi Barbecue

Add: #70 Laojie St. in Menghai County

Tel: 13988166639

 

Yedena Delicacies Court

Add: Fozhao St. in Menghai County

 

Meiwei Xiaojiayuan Restaurant

Add: Jingmai Rd. in Menghai County

Tel: 0691-5121660

 

Lincang

Jialong Restaurant

Add: #76 Fengwu Rd. in Fengqing County

Tel: 0883-4213129  0883-4212081

Business Hour: 0800am-2400pm

 

Dazhong Restaurant

Quite a flavor that meets everyone’s need with a reasonable cost. Recommended dishes include Lushi Bean Curd, Homemade Pickled Cabbage Fried Pork Slices, Fried Crisp, Homemade Ham, Bean Soup, and Sausages.

Add: South Dianhong Rd. in Fengqing County

Tel: 13988353832

 

Hengfeng Inn

Add: Fengwu Rd. in Fengqing County

 

Recommended Hotels

Pu’er

Pu’er Kaiyuan SPA Hotel of Meizihu Lake             

The hotel obtains ethnic characteristics of SEA and Yunnan mixed with the unique scene of Meizihu Lake. The sightseeing plat and the forest paths distribute among woods beside the lake.

Add: Gaojiazhai Meizihu Lake Scenic Spot in Simao Dist., Pu’er

Tel: 0879-2318888/2318777

 

Pu’er Kaiyuan Lesser Panda Manor                       

The Lesser Panda Manor satisfies not only tourists’ common needs but also the needs to conferences, entertainment, hiking, and exploration.

Add: 37km southeast to Simao Dist., Pu’er.

Tel: 0879-3037000

 

Yunnan Jingmai Brilliant Resort & SPA                  

The only Relais & Châteaux hotel of Membership in west China, right next to Jingmai Mangjing Scenic Spot constructed based on the ancient tea garden.

Add: Huimin Town in Langcang County

Tel: 0879-7525666

 

Xishuangbanna

Menghai Golden Chain SPA Restore

Large scales and high vegetation coverage rate, interiors and facilities of local Dai style.

Add: Manxinghu Lake Reservoir beside Xiangshan Community in Menghai County.

Tel: 0691-3087777

 

Menghai International Grand Inn                          

The landmark of Menghai, mixture of fashion elements and ethnic attractiveness.

Add: #14 Nanhai Rd. in Menghai County.

Tel: 0691-3028888

 

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & SPA

Locates in Menglun Town, Mengla County, Jinghong Prefecture, near Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden.

Add: Menglun Town, Mengla County, Jinghong Prefecture

Tel: 0691-8936666

 

Lincang 

Fengqing Dianhong Grand Inn

Various room types, near the shopping mall.

Add: #1 Fengcheng, in Fengqing County.

Tel: 0883-4691777

 

Recommended Souvenirs 

Tea

Tea origins from Yunnna, local people are fans of tea, the province produces nice tea. 26 different ethnic groups in Yunnan enjoy tea in various ways beside the everlasting bonfires or on the ancient tea-horse route.

Pu’er tea earns most reputation among local tea brands. Pu’er tea could be divided into 2 types and distributes in Pu’er, Lincang, and Xishuangbanna. Tea from different regions might vary in flavor, beside Pu’er Tea there are also brands like Fengqing Red Tea, Dianlv Green Tea, Dali Tuo Tea & Snow Tea, and Kunming Miles-Fragrant.

 

Pu’er

Ning’er Silver Products

Lesser Spicy Sparrows

Zhenyuan Local Eggs

Xishuangbanna

Dai Weaving

Tropical Fruits

 

Lincang

Wa Blankets

The Tongpas

 

Tips

Auto Repairing

Liming Repairing

Menghai County

13988187064

 

Guangfu Imported Auto Repair Shop

Mengla County

0691-8122566

 

Fangyuan Repairing

Mengla County

0691-8121150

 

Shentong Repairing

Across the gas station in new downtown of Ximeng County

0879-8344899