Live Your Best Lives
There's a small town where tea is both its specialty and its name. Countless people have come from far and wide to savor a cup of tea, leaving behind a scent of it. They then bring it back home as gifts for friends and family, a token of their longing. Thus, its fame spread far and wide, and so did the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. This mysterious little town is Pu'er.
Pu'er, also known as Simao, is home to 13 ethnic minorities, representing 61% of the Han population. The region is rich in ethnic customs and traditions. Most Pu'er residents speak Southwestern Mandarin, a dialect similar to Mandarin, though with slight differences in intonation. Some phrases have distinct local characteristics, making it easy to understand, making it easy for newcomers from other provinces to communicate.
Pu'er is home to 14 ethnic groups, including Han, Hani, Yi, Lahu, Wa, and Dai. This diverse city boasts numerous traditional festivals, including the Wa Wooden Drum Festival, the Lahu Gourd Festival, the Yi Torch Festival, and the Dai Water Splashing Festival. If you're looking to experience this culture, visiting during a festival is particularly appealing. Pu'er's mountainous terrain, with significant elevation differences, creates cooler temperatures, more humid air, and significant day-night temperature swings. Packing extra layers is recommended, and precautions should be taken when staying overnight in the mountains. Pu'er's high altitude creates strong ultraviolet rays, so please apply sunscreen before outdoor activities. The mountainous area is known for its high mosquito population, so be especially careful.
Mojiang County, Pu'er City, lies between 22.51° and 23.57° north latitude, with the Tropic of Cancer running through the city. The Tropic of Cancer Landmark Park was built in 1997, using the Tropic of Cancer's position in 2038 AD, 23.26°N, as its axis. If you happen to be visiting Pu'er during the summer solstice, a visit to the Tropic of Cancer Landmark Park is a must-do. This is because only during those few days of the year are all points on the Tropic of Cancer directly illuminated by the sun. As a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating astronomy, geography, botanical science, garden art, and tourism culture, the Tropic of Cancer Landmark Park is particularly suitable for families with children.
Reference time: more than 3 hours
Ticket price: 30 yuan
Opening hours: 9:00-18:00
Located at the southern end of Ximeng County, known as "China's First Ecological City," Longtan Park presents a landscape of "a city within a forest, a forest within a water, and a water within a city." Admission to Longtan Park is 50 yuan, with children half-price. Free parking is available at the entrance. Wa folk song and dance performances, including sword and bamboo dances, are worth seeing at 10:30 a.m. daily. The Longmoye Sacred Land, located within Longtan Park, is a site of Wa worship. When Wa people hold major events or resolve complex conflicts between tribes, they use water buffaloes as mascots, holding grand bull-fighting ceremonies. These buffalo heads are preserved in Longmoye, a site that has gradually grown in number. Entering Longmoye, one is greeted by a vast array of solemn and majestic buffalo heads in a myriad of poses, creating a visually and emotionally captivating spectacle. Longmoye has become a must-see for visitors to Ximeng.
Reference time: more than 3 hours
Ticket price: 50 yuan
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
Bixi Ancient Town is located in Mojiang County, Yunnan Province. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and is an important post station on the ancient Tea-Horse Road. It is beautiful, ancient, prosperous, with a complete structure and well preserved. It is listed as one of the 60 tourist towns in Yunnan. The ancient town is surrounded by a moat and once had a city wall with four gates in the east, west, south and north. The remaining stone foundation of the ancient city wall is still clearly visible, surrounding the ancient town and bearing witness to history; the streets in the city are in a cross-shaped structure, and in the center there used to be a three-story landmark building, Kuixing Pavilion (an octagonal building), with a plaque inscribed with "Yuanjiang Military and Civilian Mansion" (Bixi belonged to Yuanjiang County during the Ming and Qing Dynasties). On the third floor, there was a statue of "Kuixing", the god who is said to dominate the rise and fall of articles; the buildings in the city are represented by houses of three structures built in the early 1890s: "horse racing corner building, three rooms and a screen wall, and a seal". The facades and courtyards are carved with paintings and inscriptions, and are full of ancient charm; the layout of the houses in the entire ancient city is in rows horizontally and columns vertically, the roads are in a grid, and there is a city-wide fire protection system. It has distinct official planning characteristics, which is a major feature that distinguishes it from other ancient towns.
Reference time: 1-3 hours
Admission: Free
Opening hours: All day
Jingmai in Lancang, Yunnan, is world-renowned for its tea. Everyone knows it's home to the world's largest ancient tea plantation. Ancient tea is the region's hallmark, the fundamental reason many people yearn for Jingmai. However, Jingmai Mountain offers a unique wonder in spring that's often missed or even completely unknown. On Jingmai Mountain lie two villages: Jingmai and Mangjing. Hundreds of years ago, when our ancestors planted tens of thousands of tea trees, their goal was likely simply to provide for their livelihoods. As these trees grew, they ultimately created a wealth that few could have anticipated. Thankfully, the Jingmai mountain villages haven't abandoned their traditional roots, and their buildings largely retain the style inherited from their ancestors. While the interiors may be quite luxurious, all villages still feature the same stilt-style buildings, remaining seamlessly integrated with nature.
Every January, winter cherry blossoms bloom across the mountains, and seas of clouds appear almost daily. April is the peak season for ethnic festivals, including the Water Splashing Festival (Dai) and the Sanggan Festival (Bulang). The Bulang people also hold grand tea-worshipping ceremonies, with each village performing in full costume and displaying fireworks. April is also the peak tourist season, as is the spring tea season, bringing numerous tea vendors. Be sure to book your accommodations in advance. Jingmai Mountain is ideal for year-round travel, boasting a mild climate year-round, with neither extreme heat nor extreme cold. However, weather can be challenging during the peak rainy season in July and August. Please monitor the weather forecast. From November to February, as long as the weather is clear, a sea of clouds appears daily. The sea of clouds appears from morning to sunrise, shrouding the village in mist, creating a fairy-tale-like atmosphere. As the sun rises, the clouds gradually dissipate between 10 and 11 p.m.
The Xiniuping Scenic Area within the forest park is a comprehensive mountain scenic area integrating the four themes of "mountains, forests, water, and people." It showcases Yunnan's rich animal resources and the landscape of northern tropical and southern subtropical monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forests. Key attractions include ten scenic spots: the Rhino Hermitage, Macaque Paradise, Fish Shadow Stream Tracing, Alsophila Trail, Playful Monkey Peninsula, Osprey Playing in the Water, Butterfly Valley, Traveling Red Pandas, Playful Bird Paradise, and Orchid Garden—as well as ethnic song and dance performances. Here, visitors can stroll through the vast forest, observe the Alsophila sinensis, a living fossil contemporary with the dinosaurs, and linger among a variety of orchids, awaiting their bloom. They can also admire rhinos running freely in the grasslands, gibbons frolicking through the trees, red pandas roaming freely in the forest, various waterfowl leisurely roaming in the wetlands, butterflies dancing gracefully in the valley, and birds singing joyfully from the branches. The area also offers a cultural feast that brings together the songs and dances of Pu'er's 14 indigenous ethnic minorities.
Reference time: All day
Tickets: 150/person for adults, free for tour guides, senior citizens, officers/soldiers, persons with disabilities and children under 1.2 meters in height.
Opening hours: All day
Pu'er Simao Airport
Pu'er (Simao) Airport is located at the southeastern foot of Wuliang Mountain in southwestern Yunnan, east of the Lancang River. It's a small, dual-use military and civilian airport, or perhaps a converted military one. It's small, but unique. Construction began in 1959, and Simao Airport officially opened in 1961. This played a significant role in alleviating transportation difficulties and strengthening national defense. In the same year, Premier Zhou Enlai flew to Simao by special plane, becoming the first important person to be received by Simao Airport. Currently, flights operate to Kunming, Guangzhou Baiyun, Lijiang, Chengdu, Guiyang, Changsha, and other destinations.
Pu'er Bus Station
The ticket price from Kunming South Bus Station to Pu'er Bus Station is about 200 RMB and the journey takes nearly 7 hours.
Bus: Within Pu'er City, there are bus routes 1 to 9. Bus route 6 includes both an outbound and a return trip. Please pay attention to the first and last bus times!
Taxi: The starting price of a Pu'er taxi is 5 yuan for 3 kilometers, and then 1.2 yuan or 1.4 yuan per kilometer depending on the type of car; a waiting fee of 0.5 kilometers will be added for every five minutes of waiting; from midnight to 6 am, the minimum rental fee is 10 yuan.
Pu'er Gaobo Garden Hotel
(From 189 yuan/room)
Located in Gaojiazhai, on the Pu'er tourist loop, the hotel is close to the beautiful Meizi Lake and the Tea Mountain Observation Deck. Surrounded by local food streets and conveniently located near Pu'er's main highway, the hotel offers convenient transportation. As a boutique hotel in Pu'er dedicated to Pu'er tea culture, the hotel boasts a variety of unique tea-themed guest rooms, all equipped with Wi-Fi. The unique wooden restaurant building features private dining rooms, offering a menu of local specialties and specially crafted snacks and tea-themed meals. The hotel's buffet restaurant, accommodating over 200 guests, offers an elegant and comfortable setting perfect for banquets. The fully equipped conference room is ideal for business negotiations and meetings. Enjoy leisure time with your family in the hotel's back garden, where you can stroll and chat. The tranquil and elegant surroundings and beautiful scenery create a sense of being immersed in the gentle harmony of nature. Free parking is available, and the hotel offers comprehensive facilities.
Pu'er Saint Andy Hotel
(From 138 yuan/room)
Located on Chayuan Road in Pu'er, near the 10,000-seat Sports Stadium, the hotel offers convenient transportation. Since its opening, the hotel has successfully hosted important leaders and distinguished guests, including Wen Jiabao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council; Liang Guanglie, Member of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense, and Member of the Party Leadership Group of the State Council; Xi Jinping, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and Vice President of the State Council; Hui Liangyu, Premier of the State Council; Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos; Bai Enpei, Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee; and Qin Guangrong, Governor of Yunnan Province. The St. Andy Hotel Pu'er's dining experience focuses on local Pu'er cuisine, with each dish meticulously prepared by Mr. Li Jie, one of Pu'er's top ten chefs.
Pu'er Kaiyuan Red Panda Manor
(From 1108 yuan per room)
Located 37 kilometers southeast of Simao District in Pu'er, Yunnan Province (adjacent to the Rhinoceros Flats Scenic Area of Pu'er Sun River National Park), the estate was established in 2014 by Yunnan Mekong Group Co., Ltd. Nestled in the tropical-subtropical transition zone of Pu'er, Yunnan Province, the estate boasts a 94.5% forest coverage rate and high levels of negative oxygen ions, making it a veritable natural oxygen bar. The area boasts vast forests and verdant mountains, boasting a mild climate with neither scorching summers nor severe winters. Entering the dense, lush primeval forest, one encounters towering ancient trees, dense vines, the chirping of birds, the humming of cicadas, and the cries of monkeys. It is a wonderful place for exploring hidden gems, as well as a perfect place for relaxation, wellness, and anti-aging.
Here, you can not only encounter a variety of wildlife, but also admire the beauty of the rainforest, experience ethnic customs, and experience harmony with nature. Strolling through the rainforest, you can watch monkeys and bears play, fish and butterflies play, and savor the cultural feast of song and dance from Pu'er's 14 indigenous ethnic minorities. The manor follows the mountain's contours and veins, carefully selecting high-quality wood for construction and carefully selected old shipwood for home furnishings, making every item and every scene uniquely crafted and wildly beautiful. Wooden houses are scattered throughout the peaks and valleys, and plank paths wind through the dense forest and flowers. Born in harmony with nature, the Red Panda Manor not only meets the general needs of visitors for accommodation and dining, but also offers opportunities for meetings, leisure, hiking, and exploration in the rainforest.
Pu'er's local cuisine is primarily influenced by the Hani, Yi, and Dai ethnic groups, with a tendency toward sour and spicy flavors. Roasted chicken, grilled fish, betel nut taro, and yam all bear a distinct Pu'er flavor. Two Pu'er culinary offerings are particularly noteworthy: rice noodles and barbecue. Pu'er rice noodles are unique in that they use peanut or soy milk as their broth, resulting in a rich and fragrant flavor. Pu'er barbecue uses a wide variety of ingredients, from birds and animals to seasonal fruits and vegetables, and even insects, fish, and frogs.
Tea occupies a relatively high position in the diet of Pu'er people. In addition to drinking the famous Pu'er tea, many ethnic minorities have different ways of drinking tea from the Han people. There are pickled tea, bamboo tube tea, eight-treasure oil tea, cold tea, vegetable wrapped tea, blanched tea, can tea, iron plate roasted tea, wine tube tea, earthen pot tea, etc. The forms and types can be said to be strange and bizarre, and of course the taste is also unique.
A well-known traditional delicacy in Pu'er, Yunnan, Jingdong County is particularly renowned. Three-pointed corner baba is characterized by its water chestnut-like shape, thin skin, and generous filling. It is delicious, sweet, and soft, yet not greasy, and offers a variety of flavors. It is a rare and popular delicacy enjoyed by all ages.
In the Dai villages of Menglian, a delicacy rich in protein is enjoyed every summer: sour and spicy, it soothes the stomach, promotes salivation, dispels summer heat, and strengthens the body. Sour ants are a species of slender yellow ants found in tropical jungles. The adults have a strong sour flavor and often build round nests several times the size of a pumpkin in bamboo groves and tree trunks. In late spring and early summer, the nests are mostly filled with pearly white, soybean-sized eggs. To prepare it, the nests are removed, impurities and adult ants are removed, and after cooking, the eggs are mixed with salt, chili peppers, chopped onions, and mashed garlic before serving. Sour ant eggs are the smallest and most fragrant eggs in the world, rich in protein. The Menglian Dai people often serve them to relatives and friends, leaving a lasting impression.
City life is often hectic, leaving little time for reflection. While winter in the north freezes and snow drifts across vast expanses, Pu'er offers warm sunshine, gentle breezes, and the opportunity to savor authentic local cuisine. Of course, some of these delicacies require a bit of courage, as Yunnan is a magical land where people thrive on flowers and insects. In the afternoon, find a spot nestled on a hillside, nestled against the backdrop of mountains and facing the water, and enjoy brewing, sipping, and discussing tea with fellow travelers. Perhaps you'll slowly discover, oh, this is life. It's hard to explain, but only through the slow, immersive experience of time can you discover the meaning of your own life.
It's been so long since you've laughed heartily. Hold hands with those around you and dance with the local ethnic minorities. Maybe your dancing isn't perfect, but you'll find that missing smile you've long missed away from the city. Spend some leisure time in Pu'er this winter.
