Explore the Puerh Tea Mountains & Living Tea Cultures of Xishuangbanna

Overview

To understand Puerh tea, one must go beyond the cup and into the mountains, to meet the people who cultivate it and keep its traditions alive. This nine-day journey follows the roots of tea itself, along the Ancient Tea–Horse Road, into the landscapes and communities where tea is both a livelihood and a way of life.

In Xishuangbanna—one of Yunnan’s most diverse and captivating regions—history and ecology intertwine. Here, rainforest trails open to ancient tea gardens, villages echo with the songs of the Dai, Akha, Lahu and Bulang peoples, and meals are alive with the flavors of the forest and river.

Our route winds through legendary tea mountains—Mengsong, Laoman’e, Hekai, and Man’nuo—before returning to Jinghong. Along the way, we share workshops and kitchens with tea makers, walk storied plantations and family gardens, sit with monks to taste sweet and bitter brews, and witness how tea shapes not only landscapes, but the rhythms of daily life.

We take joy in curating immersive workshops that bring the heritage of ethnic minorities to life—through crafts, performances, and hands-on traditions—for curious explorers.

Duration: 9 days & 8 nights

Destinations: Jinghong – Mengsong – Bulangshan – Hekai – Menghai – Manla – Man’nuo – Jinghong

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly into Jinghong

Meet your English-speaking guide and tea maker at Gasa International Airport, then transfer to your riverside hotel in the heart of Jinghong (around 15 minutes). Walk along the Lancang (upper Mekong) and join an exclusive tasting of teas from Yibang’s old mountains. In the evening, share a Dai-style barbecue at a favorite local food street, and, if energy allows, wander into the vibrant Starlight Night Market. Overnight in Jinghong.

Day 2 – Into the Mengsong Mountains

Wake gently and visit Xishuangbanna Ethnic Minorities Museum. After a countryside lunch in Dongfeng, visit the historic Theravada temples of Menglong Town before winding through rubber groves and rainforest roads into the old tea mountains of Mengsong. Dine in a traditional Akha stilt house with our host Alan and watch the essential “kill-green” pan-roasting step of tea making. Homestay in Mengsong.

Day 3 – Making Tea by Hand

Spend the day learning the craft of rough tea. Guided by Alan, pluck tender leaves beneath the rainforest canopy, pause for a wild picnic of fresh tea-leaf dishes, and return by motor tricycle with the morning harvest. In the workshop, join the process from withering to sun-drying, and after dinner, practice pan-frying, rolling, and packaging with your host family. Second night in Mengsong.

Day 4 – Forest Knowledge & Evening Celebration

Birdwatch and hike forest trails with Atu, a former hunter turned conservationist, and learn about nine species of rattan vital to local life and once reserved for Dai royalty. Collect spring water in bamboo tubes for brewing tea. After lunch, compare your handmade tea with local versions in a guided tasting. In the evening, help prepare a communal dinner by the fire, listen to traditional flute music, and celebrate with your host family at a countryside KTV. Final night in Mengsong.

Day 5 – Weaving Traditions & Bulangshan

Wake naturally and enjoy a final Akha-style brunch with your hosts. Spend the morning learning bamboo and rattan weaving from a master artisan, shaping your own piece to carry home. After heartfelt farewells, travel west to Bulangshan. With our Bulang host, Sanmei, visit the centuries-old Laoman’e Temple, speak with monks about the role of tea in their practice, and taste Laoman’e’s signature teas—both sweet and bitter, like the balance of life itself. Overnight in Bulangshan.

Day 6 – Hekai Old Tea Mountains & Manla Village

Take a short drive to Laoman’e, then continue to Hekai, home to some of the world’s most expansive old tea gardens and explore the Hekai Tea Museum. After lunch in Hekai, travel to Manla, where a family-run workshop lies between tea fields and paddies. Walk to the neighboring Dai village to experience roasting tea leaves over an open hearth and brewing in clay pots. Back at the workshop, owner Lin shares the mysteries of long-term Puerh ageing in his storage. Dine among the tea gardens while listening to stories from his years of mountain travels. Overnight at the Manla tea workshop.

Day 7 – Dayi Factory & Man’nuo Village

In the morning, step inside the renowned Dayi Tea Factory—whose raw and ripe Puerh cakes set the standard for quality across China. Join technicians for a behind-the-scenes look at the automation and craft inside their historic buildings, then continue the conversation over lunch. By afternoon, reach Man’nuo, where ancient tea trees grow entwined with massive rocks. Share some of Menghai’s most aromatic teas with our Bulang host family, followed by dinner and homestay in the village.

Day 8 – Return to Jinghong & comparative tea tasting

Spend the morning among Man’nuo’s rocky tea gardens, deepening your connection with its unique terroir. On the way back, keep watch for wild elephants in the Meng’a reserve. In Jinghong, take part in a comparative tasting of small-leaf and broad-leaf teas, raw (sheng) and ripe (shu) Puerh—an exploration of contrasts. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at Meimei Café. Overnight at the Rhythm of River Hotel.

Day 9 – Departure from Jinghong

Enjoy unhurried free time for riverside walks or souvenir browsing before your transfer to the airport or train station. Carry with you not just tea, but the voices of mountains, forests, and the people who make them come alive.

What’s Included

• Personal Travel Consultant — Your Yunnan-based specialist listens to your ideas, offers thoughtful advice, and works with you until the journey feels just right.
• Local Guide & Driver — Knowledgeable guides and experienced drivers who know both the roads and the rhythms of tea life. Flexible, patient, and ready to introduce you to places and stories beyond the guidebook.
• Accommodation Choices — From boutique guesthouses and tea farmer homestays to 3-star comfort, 4-star charm, or 5-star luxury, we help you find the stay that matches your taste and budget.
• Meals with Meaning — In Jinghong, most hotels serve Chinese-style breakfasts, but Western cafés are an option if you prefer. Along the way, meals are often shared in family kitchens or chosen restaurants, offering a window into local flavors and food culture.
• Experiences & Activities — All main entries and activities listed in the itinerary are included (except for clearly optional extras).

Important Notes

Our itinerary is designed with care, but nature, weather, and community rhythms can bring surprises. Schedules may adjust slightly, and we invite you to embrace this flexibility as part of the journey.