Xiaohusai Village and Tea Plantation in Shuangjiang County, Lincang
Location and Overview:
Xiaohusai Village is part of the Gongnong Village Committee (公弄村委会) under Mengku Town (勐库镇), which is in Shuangjiang Lahu, Va, Blang, and Dai Autonomous County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province (云南省临沧市双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县). Situated in a mountainous region, Xiaohusai lies to the north of Mengku Town, approximately 18 kilometers away, and is about 4 kilometers from Gongnong Village Committee. Gongnong itself is positioned along a small mountain range extending from the Bangma Big Snow Mountain (邦马大雪山) to the Mengku Basin (勐库坝). Xiaohusai is well-known for its tea production and cultural diversity.
Composition and Ethnic Groups:
Xiaohusai comprises three stockades: one for the Han nationality and two for the Lahu ethnic minority (拉祜族). These stockades are lined up along the slope of the main peak of Bangma Big Snow Mountain. The Han stockade is only about one meter away from the two Lahu stockades. The mountain peak behind Xiaohusai hosts the largest concentration of wild ancient tea trees in the area. While the direct route from Xiaohusai to the “King of Wild Tea Trees” is shorter compared to the route from Dahusai (大户赛), the steep hills behind Xiaohusai make the climb more challenging. Consequently, visitors often choose the Dahusai path when venturing to see the wild tea trees on Bangma Big Snow Mountain.
Xiaohusai Puer Tea:
Xiaohusai is renowned for its ancient tea trees. Trees with a girth of over one meter are common, whether in front of houses or on nearby slopes, reflecting Shuangjiang County’s centuries-old tea cultivation history. The majority of Xiaohusai’s population consists of the Lahu ethnic minority, making up about 70% of the total population. Lahu people primarily live in Liangzi Stockade (梁子寨) and Wazi Stockade (洼子寨), which are situated close to each other and host the largest and oldest ancient tea gardens in the area. The ancient tea garden in Liangzi Stockade is among the best-preserved in Mengku Town and Shuangjiang County, covering over 300 acres. Some tea trees have trunks over 1.5 meters in girth and more than 5 meters in height, indicating they may have been planted during the Ming Dynasty or even earlier.
Cultural Significance and Economic Impact:
Liangzi Stockade is a distinctive ancient tea village where nearly every household grows tea trees. The verdant tea trees surround the homes, blending the natural environment with human habitation, making it hard to distinguish whether the stockade was built in a tea grove or the trees were planted around the homes. The Lahu people live in harmony with their tea, enjoying the aroma of tea throughout the day and night. Tea cultivation and sales provide a significant source of income for the community.
Other Notable Tea Gardens:
Another significant tea garden in Xiaohusai is near Chashanhe (茶山河). A three-kilometer ancient path links Liangzi Stockade to Chashanhe, with tea fields lining both sides. Some of these tea gardens were established in 1958, while others date back to the Republic period. The older tea trees feature thick trunks, comparable to the rim of a bowl, and although they have been dwarfed over time, they still produce abundant buds and leaves. These gardens stretch up to the virgin forest at higher elevations and down to the edge of the paddy fields below. The dense foliage and wild rattans encircling some of the older tea trees near Chashanhe make them inaccessible for tea plucking, preserving their wild nature.
