Hidden Gem Menglian: An Avocado Rendezvous at the Border

Pu'er | Menglian, a border town of avocados ||| Among the nine counties under the jurisdiction of Pu'er, the most popular is Jingmai Mountain in Lancang, and the second most popular is Menglian. Menglian is mainly inhabited by the Dai people. The ancient town is full of glittering gold, and is rich in ethnic customs.
⛰️[Must-See Attractions]
1️⃣ Mengma Waterfall
Walk along the stone steps for 15 minutes from the entrance of several houses to reach the viewing platform. The further you go, the louder the sound of water. The waterfall is surrounded by forests. Even in the dry season, it is still worth a visit. A sanitation fee of CNY 10/person is required. Mengma's cold noodles are famous and worth trying.
2️⃣ Nayun Bridge
This has been a popular online check-in spot in recent years. It has a unique charm both day and night, and is very magnificent. After crossing the bridge, you can reach Nayun Ancient Town.
3️⃣ Nayun Ancient Town
There are Buddhist temples in the lower, middle, and upper parts of the town. The pagodas and halls inside the temples are full of ethnic customs. The ancient town is well-preserved, and there are also many snacks to try. Outside the ancient town is a coffee street.
4️⃣ Tusi Yamen
The only well-preserved Dai Tusi Yamen in the country. There is an avocado planet photography exhibition, and there are also explanations that you can follow to learn about the history of successive Tusi chiefs.
5️⃣ The Great Golden Pagoda
It is still resplendent at night. Because Menglian has a high status in Dai Buddhism, there is a golden pagoda here. Places with lower status have silver pagodas. There is a CNY 10/person entrance fee (if I remember correctly).
🍜[A Taste of Menglian]
☕ Qiao'an Coffee Plantation
→ It's a whole new world once you enter. There are homestays, processing plants, and cafes. The avocado milkshake is very good and has the texture of creamy mousse (but the portion is a bit small).
🍲 Shangyun Town Dai Flavor
→ A restaurant highly recommended by locals. The papaya stewed chicken is recommended. It is sweet and sour, and very appetizing. The pounded fish is also very special.
🍜 Nayun Ancient Town Colorful Rice Noodles (Pictures 7-8)
→ The best breakfast in Menglian! Red/yellow/green three-color rice noodles, served with Dai fried pork and beef skin, are the soul of this dish.
[Transportation Tips]
🚗 Self-driving: 3 hours from Pu'er. The road conditions are good. The road to Lancang is an expressway, and there is about another hour of secondary road after that.