Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture published the Notice of the Ministry of Agriculture on Issuing the List of 2017 Accredited Leisure Fishery Brand Creation Entities on its website. In the 2017 Leisure Fishery Brand campaign, totally 25 national famous festivals (exhibitions) were accredited as national demonstration fisheries cultural festival (exhibition) via expert evaluation and network voting, and among them, 2 were from Yunnan province. Of such 2 national demonstration fisheries culture festivals in Yunnan province, The “China • Menglian Nayun God Fish Festival” in Pu’er won the award, becoming a national demonstration fishery culture festival. The valid period started from the issuance date of the notice until December 31, 2020.
To date, “China • Menglian Nayun God Fish Festival” has been successfully held for 14th sessions. During the festival, you can enjoy the lively and busy scene of jumping fish and happy fishermen on the vast river, taste special food with Dai, Lahu and Wa characteristic as well as exotic flavor from Burma and Thailand, experience the original flow of folk customs, watch a dance of all ethnic groups to bring harmony, song and dance, tea and wine, amorous feelings linger.
The “China • Menglian Nayun God Fish Festival” becoming a national demonstration fishery culture festival will further promote the development of Pu’er’s fishery and leisure industry, thus push the development of health caring tourism and leisure vacation industry and promote the development of whole-area tourism.
The 14th Tropic of Cancer International Twin Festival Mojiang China and Sun Festival of Hani will be held in Mojiang Hani Nationality Autonomous County, Pu’er City from April 29th to May 1st.
This event will be entitled “Hani Rhythm Returning and Twin Meetingin Amojiang” to inherit and carry forward regional culture on Tropic of Cancer and to present local Hani culture, geographic features and twin charm. The themed event this year includes twin party, twin star talent competition, long street banquet as well as Hani mysterious wedding ceremony, Hani Monihei Festival, Hani finger-guessing game and folk literature and art exhibition, ten-thousand-people campfire carnival and other activities of unique regional culture features.
Mojiang Twin Festival began in 2005 and has been held for 13 consecutive years. More than 12,000 pairs of twins from over 30 countries and regions have been attracted to the festival, which has been rated as “an ethnic festival of most international influence” and “a festival of most ethnic characteristics” successively and was rated as “a festival in which the most twins participate in” by Shanghai China Records.
(Source: Yunnan Daily)
A few days ago, some guests for each year’s Menglian Fish Festival watched a performance of authentic Dai style ancient court music (also called “Xuanfu ancient music”) in the Xuanfu Department in Nayun Ancient Town. Many people were intoxicated in the ancient music, which in fact was once facing the extinction crisis. To save the heritage of the ancient music, the government adopted a series of measures, encouraged the performers by rewards, and opened a heritage base. Now, the Dai style ancient court music has trained many inheritors, and they do a lot of performances every year.
In the year of 2006, the only one alive old performer who had played the court music was Long Sannong, a 72-year-old performer, in addition, there are only 10 persons in the county who can play some of the songs in the court music.
The court orchestra mainly perform for the leaders of Xuanfu Department, and the instruments they used are very special and beautiful in sound. Long Sannong is a member of the court orchestra, and he lived in Manglang Village, over 40 km from the county seat. He started learning to play the ancient music performance at the age of 12, and his master took him to Xuanfu Department, after 2 days of walking, for a performance, which was the first time and the last time he played in the court. Then the court orchestra shattered due to various reasons.
The instruments used in ancient music consist of Duoluo, Ding etc., but many of the young are not willing to learn them because these instruments cannot bring them money, and gradually the instruments and music scores failed to be handed down from the past generations. The orchestra has 12 persons in 1982, 9 persons in 1992, 4 persons in 2000 and only 3 persons instruments in total including Ding and Duoluo.
To preserve the ancient music, Menglian Cultural Center paid the money for the making of instruments for 5 old performers of folk music, and some of the staff even joined in the orchestra to study playing while collecting music scores.
Xuanfu Ancient Music Association was founded for the purpose of rescuing the ancient music, and then registered their trademark. The government also attached great importance to it, established a special fund to support the old performers, and encouraged them to train pupils. Once a pupil reaches a certain level, both the teacher and the pupil will get money award. And a heritage base was founded in school 3 years ago.
Along with the construction of the tourism projects like “green triangle” and the “tea ancestral culture”, more and more visitors come here every year, thus Menglian’s county government is planning to build an ancient music performance hall in the Nayun Ancient Town to let the visitors appreciate the sound of nature.
Dali and Lijiang are two hot destinations in Yunnan Province. Dali is a city in southwestern Yunnan of China, on the shores of Erhai Lake. Its history dates back to the Nanzhao Kingdom(8th century). The walled old city, from the Ming dynasty, contains traditional houses and towers from the Bai minority. Beyond the old city stand the Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple, founded in the 9th century. Lijiang, a city in the northwest part of China’s Yunnan province, is inhabited by the Naxi and several other minority groups. Lijiang Ancient Town is compose of cobblestone streets, canals and Central Market Square with shops and restaurants. There are famous Black Dragon Pool and views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Travel to Lijiang from Dali by Train
In this part, how to get to Lijiang from Dali by train will be introduced. The transportation between Dali to Lijiang by train involves two railway stations, Dali Railway Station and Lijiang Railway Station. Taking train is more cost-effective than long-distance bus and other vehicles. There are two daily direct trains, but direct trains from Dali to Lijiang will stop at Heqing Station for 2-3 minutes. In 2-3 minutes, the train will continue to Lijiang. Heqing Station is just a intermediate station between two stations. The whole journey is about 2.5-3 hours, and the price ranges from 34-328.5 yuan. You can choose different classes according to your need, like hard seat, soft seat, soft sleeper and compartment.
Dali-Lijiang Train Schedule
| Train Number | Departs | Arrives | Stopover Time | Price |
| K6121 | 17:15 | 20:06 | 3 minutes(in Heqing) | Hard seat: 34 CNY/Soft sleeper: 105.5 CNY/Compartment: 328.5 CNY |
| K6123 | 19:05 | 21:33 | 2 minutes(In Heqing) | Hard seat: 25.5 CNY/Soft seat: 49 CNY/Soft sleeper: 105.5 CNY |
Lijiang Railway Station丽江火车站
Address: Shangji Road, Yulong County, Lijiang City丽江市玉龙县上吉路附近
1. You can take No.8 bus to Dali Railway Station from Dali Ancient Town.
2. When you arrive at Lijiang Railway Station, you can take No.4, No.18 and No.16 to Lijiang Ancient Town.
3. If you want to book ticket or arrange a tour, you can contact us, Yunnan Exploration will provide attentive services. We have many tour packages related to Dali and Lijiang. Check more information about Dali tour and Lijiang tour. Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com; Tel: +86-871-63511469.
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Line 1
Xiaoximen Nanjiang Hotel (Xiyi Hotel) → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 20 minutes
1. From Kunming Changshui International Airport to the city centre:
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Xinyingxiaoqu (No. 409, East Renmin Road) → Xiongye Hotel, Kunming North Railway Station → Xiaoximen Nanjiang Hotel (south side of the crossroads between West Dongfeng Road and Kunshi Road)
Time: 7.00 am to 11.00 pm
2. From Xiaoximen Nanjiang Hotel → Xinyingxiaoqu (No. 409, East of Renmin Road) → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 5.00 am to 11.00 pm
Line 2 (Jinjiang Hotel)
Jinjiang Hotel → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 20 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Xinyingxiaoqu (No. 409 East Renmin Road) → Taili Hotel (No. 39 South Huancheng Road) → Kunming Railway Station, Jinjiang Hotel (No. 98, Beijing Road)
Time: 8.00 am to 3.00 am
Kunming Railway Station, Jinjiang Hotel (No. 98, Beijing Road) → Nanyao Hotel → Jialuda Hotel (No. 266, South Huancheng Road) → Xinyingxiaoqu (No. 409, East Renmin Road) → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 5.00 am to 11.00 pm
Line 2 (Wujiaba)
Kunming Wujiaba → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 30 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Zhongyu Hotel (No. 379, Guomao Road, Guandu District) → Kunming Wujiaba
Time: 8.00 am to 10.00 pm
Kunming Wujiaba → Zhongyu Hotel (No. 379, Guomao Road, Guandu District) → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 5.00 am to 11.00 pm (note: from 9.00 pm, 10.00 pm and 11.00 pm, interval time is every 60 minutes)
Line 3 (Linyu Road, Beishi District; Northern Bus Terminal)
Jinjiang Hotel, Kunming Railway Station → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 30 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → EXPO Park (No. 10 Shibo Road) → Xindulongcheng, Beichen Caifuzhongxin → Linyu Road, Beishi District (No. 142, Linyu Road, Beishi District) → Shengshiqianhe Hotel → Northern Bus Terminal
Time: 8.00 am to 12.00 pm
Northern Bus Terminal → Shengshiqianhe Hotel → Linyu Road, Beishi District (No. 142, Linyu Road, Beishi District) → Xindulongcheng, Beichen Caifuzhongxin → EXPO Park (No. 10 Shibo Road) → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 8.00 am to 12.00 pm
Line 4 (South Bus Teminal; Chenggong Haosheng Hotel)
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Southern Bus Terminal
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 30 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Empark Grand Hotel (No. Yingbin Road, Guandu District) → Southern Bus Terminal → Haosheng Hotel, Chenggong New Disctrict
Time: 9.00 am to 10.00 pm (Note: from 9.00 pm, 10.00 pm and 11.00 pm, interval time is every 60 minutes)
Southern Bus Terminal → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 8.00 am, one bus per day
Line 5 (Dianchi Resort)
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Zhonglin Building Material Wholesales → Jinnanya Business Hotel → Dianchi Resort Area → Dianchi Hotel (No. 9 Yijing Road, Dianchi Resort Area, Xishan District)
Time: 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 5.00 pm, 5.30 pm
Dianchi Hotel (No. 9 Yijing Road, Dianchi Resort Area, Xishan District) → Dianchi Resort Area → Jinnanya Business Hotel → Zhonglin Building Material Wholesales → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 7.30 am, 8.30 am
Line 6 Kunming Railway Station
Kunming Railway Station → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 30 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Kunming Hotel (No. 52, East Dongfeng Road) → Xinyingxiaoqu (No. 409, East Renmin Road) → Kunming Railway Station
Time: 7.00 am to 10. 00 pm
Western Bus Terminal Line
Western Bus Terminall → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 25 yuan per person
Interval: every 30 minutes
Kunming Changshui International Airport → Hangkong Xiaoqu (No. 2280, Rixin Road) → Jinnanya Business Hotel (Next to the Wal-mart, Qianxing Road, Xishan District) → Western Bus Terminal (No. 18, Yining Road, Xishan District)
Time: 9.00 am to 7.00 pm
Western Bus Terminal (No. 18, Yining Road, Xishan District) → Xishan District Government Building → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Time: 7.00 am to 4.30 pm
Eastern Bus Terminal Line
Eastern Bus Terminal → Kunming Changshui International Airport
Fare: 10 yuan per person
Time: 7.00 am; 7.40 am; 8.20 am; 9.00 am; 9:40 am; 10.20 am; 11.00 am; 11.40 am;
Wooden Drum: A Magical Instrument to Connecting with God for Wa People
“Kong Lang… Kong Lang…”, at nightfall, bold drum is played in the area where Wa people live in. People at all ages, men and women, together around a flaming fire, jump and sing in the hair-swaying dance on the square. On May 2, a wooden dance performance was shown in the Ximeng Longtan Lake Scenic Area. Accompanied by the sound of drums, people felt the magic culture charm from Wa people.
Wa people believe that “everything is given by the god and everything is decided by the god. Shelter from the god can only be given to us if we serve the god.” Thus Wa people see the “sacrificial offering for connecting with the god” as a very important rite in their folk custom. Wooden drums are regarded as a sacrificial tool to connect with the god, thus it has an important position in the life of Wa people, and later it derives the “Wooden Drum Dance”.
You will see wooden drums in the life of Wa people in the region of Ximeng, Pu’er and Cangyuan, Lincang, Yunnan.
Wooden Drum is called “Kong Lang Kong” in the Wa language. According to the records in the creation epic “Si Gang Li” in Wa history, in the ancient times, the A’wa Mountain was suffered from a flood disaster, and the flood swallowed up all living creatures on the land, then the god of creation Shemuyiji threw a piece of wooden trough in the flood and saved the A’wa people. From then on, the ancient Wa people revered the wooden trough as the mother of them, and they put the soul of Shenmuyiji in a wooden-made container, which was the prototype of the wooden drums.
As the change of the eras, the wooden drum used in the ritual activities to pray for the peace of people and good harvest, has become one of the musical instruments of the Wa people in daily song and dance entertainment, leaving its primitive religious colour gradually faded out.
“Wooden Drum Dance”, being generally referred to as a joint name of a series of folk dances of the Wa people, is one of the dance performances in A’wa people’s daily life, mainly including Wooden Drum Dance, Sword Dance, Hair-Swaying Dance etc., and the wooden drum is the main accompaniment musical instrument for these dances. “Wooden Drum Dance” then accordingly became a part of the Wa culture.
Making of “Magical Instrument”
Wooden drum is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Wa ancients. According to introduction, a wooden drum is generally made from an entire section of bulky log, and hard wood trees such as Malaoying trees and red leave trees are preferred.
The maker will dig a narrow and long sound hole in the middle part of the log and then dig from both ends to the middle to form the drum belly deep in middle and shallow at both ends. The drum surface is made of cowhide, with 20 wooden handles under and surround the drum. Inside the drum are flat and long sound hole with drum tongue and drum teeth. At both ends there is a sound trough narrow in middle and wide at both ends and a square sound window. Two drum strikes (at the length between 0.4 m and 0.43 m) are used for beating the drum.
It is reported that wooden drums are divided into two categories: the male ones and the female ones. The former, with a low syllable and thick timbre, is made from Malaoying tree. The latter, with a high syllable and clear timbre, is made from red leave tree. The making processes of the male ones and the female ones are roughly the same, except the size of the female ones are a bit smaller than the male ones.
The wooden drum embodies the connotation of Wa culture, which is very important for the heritage and study of Wa people’s traditional culture. The area where Wa people live in will also strengthen the protection of wooden drums to inherit the Wa culture contained in the wooden drums.
Mango is no stranger to people, for it is a very popular tropical fruit. Mango, originating from Indian evergreen tree, contains high proportion of sugar, protein and crude fiber, plus carotenoid with large amount of vitamin A. Mango has long been known as the “king of tropical fruit”, and Mango in Jingdong, Pu’er has a different taste for its late-maturing.
Jingdong is in the southwest of Yunnan, with an annual average temperature at 18.3 ℃, an annual average relative humidity at 77%, and an annual average sunshine of 2131.6 hours. Its unique and advantageous climate and geography position is very suitable for the growth of mango.
Jingdong late-maturing mango has the merits both of the small mango and of the ivory mango, which means merits including the faint scent, long and dense crude fiber, non-blasting, non-fruit-falling from firm fruit stem like the former, and merits including big fruit, high fructifying rate, sweet fruit fresh, good taste like the latter. Jingdong late-maturing mango is transformed from the 1 to 2-year-old grafted and selected branches on general mango trees. After grafting transformation, the tree shape is short with high branching rate, strong insect resistance, and strong resistance. Through soil testing and formula fertilizer, bagging and other standardized management, it has features like high fructifying rate, big and smooth fruit and high quality. It will fructify from the third year after grafting transformation.
Now Jingdong mango has become a local specialty in Jingdong, and you must not miss to taste a different flavor mango if you come to Jingdong. With the increasing popularity of “later-maturing mango”, Jingdong mango has been spread to places all over the country.
Jingdong walnut has a long history. With the natural unique advantages of Wuliang Mountain and Ailao Mountain, the walnut grows big, making itself a quality one among Yunnan walnuts, and it is also one of the main economic crops in Jingdong County. “Scarlett” Natural Walnut Milk – a senior health drink made from high quality walnut kernel, along with ingredients as sucrose, honey, edible emulsifier etc., through high tech production technology. Rich in 18 kinds of amino acids, vegetable protein, vegetable fat, multiple vitamin and trace elements that are needed by human body. With good appearance, smell and taste, attractive white, sweet and crispy taste, quiet and tasteful fragrance, it is popular among consumers. “Scarlett” Natural Walnut Milk won the Golden Medal of 1993 China Spark Program Achievement, the Golden Medal of 1994 National Light of Science Achievement, the Golden Medal of 1995 China (Beijing) International Food Expo. It helps in clear vision and better intelligence, strong body and smart brain, energy and lung maintenance, black hair and fresh complexion, heart failure resistance. You can drink it either cold or hot. It is a senior health drink suitable for people at all ages. Jingdong Walnut is a geography sign certification mark.
Except Simao District, all of the other nine counties of Pu’er which is called home by 13 native minorities are autonomous counties named after at least one native minority.
The population of minorities accounts for 61% of the total population of Pu’er. Among the nine counties, Lancang is the only Lahu autonomous county in China, Mojiang is the unique Hani autonomous county in China, and Ximeng is one of the only two Wa autonomous counties in China.
The 13 minorities have up to one hundred branches in total, and each branch has its own festivals, style of singing and dancing, etc. You will be impressed by the Hair Swinging Dance of the Wa people during the Wooden Drum Festival, the Elephant-foot Drum Dance of the Dai people during the Water Splashing Festival, the Sheepskin Drum Dance of the Yi people during the Torch Festival, the Waggling Dance of the Lahu people during the Gourd Festival, and the Drum Dance of the Hani People during the Shiyue Festival (the New Year celebration of Hani ethinic minorty), etc.
The talented minorities’ hardwork on this fertile land have endowed Pu’er with romance and legends. Different branches of different minorities have their own history, epic poems, myths and tales.
The Wa people in Ximeng claim that they are the ancient nationality who came from caves. Before the People’s Republic of China was founded, they still lived in the primitive society. Due to the direct transition of the social formation, the Wa ethnic culture of Ximeng has exhibited high value for a deeper insight. Since the Wa people don’t have written language, they only rely on their words and deeds to create a cultural system that has recorded the Wa ethnic ancestors’ ancient rich knowledge of the nature and human race. Nowadays, more and more scholars and travellers spare no efforts in coming to Awa Mountain to study the Wa ethnic culture which has been highlighted by the animism, sacred wood drum, ox slaughtering ceremony, oxtail cutting ceremony and the seldom known Sigangli scriptures, etc.
As the only Hani autonomous county in China, Mojiang is home to nine branches of the Hani minority which are Baihong, Haoni, Kaduo, Biyue, Lami, Kabie, Qiedi, Ximoluo and Ahmu. For thousands of years, the Hani people have lived on the miraculous terraced fields, creating colourful ethnic culture. Therefore, Mojiang is an important area for researching the Hani ethnic culture. In addition, Lancang is an important area for researching the Lahu ethnic culture; Menglian, where Nayun is one of the top 10 Ancient Towns in Yunnan Province and the best reserved Dai ethnic ancient town in China, is the culture converging point of the four branches of the Dai and other ethinic minorty groups.
It is never grandiloquent to say that Pu’er is the miniature of Yunnan Province’s ethnic culture. Although these 13 different minorities of Pu’er have different cultures, they share similar qualities, such as: being indigenous, kind, enthusiastic, amicable, and respecting the nature.
The minorities such as the Hani, Yi and Dai have their own sacred forests for the purpose of protecting the water source. They call the sacred forest “Dragon Forest” for which each year sacrificial ceremonies must be held. So in the vicinity of a village of any of these minorities, one can find a verdant forest with centuries-old trees. No matter how many terraced fields or land are farmed nearby, the Dragon Forest has to be well protected.
Take the Hani minority for example, the Dragon Forest is culturally the adobe of the sacred protector of a village. In the mind of the Hani ethnic members, the Forest is something that determines the fate of the village. Villagers would never do any harm to the Forest and impurities are strictly kept away from it. Young people are not allowed to date inside the Forest.
The worship of the Dragon Forest is in fact the worship of the nature. For these minorities, the god is the Dragon Forest, and vice versa. Some villages don’t have a Dragon Forest but only a Dragon Tree. And the reason is that during those days when religious beliefs were forbidden, the Dragon Forest was chopped down. Therefore, when a village is left with only a sacred tree that symbolises the god, villagers would suffer the anguish from inside.
For the Wa, Lau and Bulang people, everything has a deity, including mountains, waters, and plants etc. So they wouldn’t randomly chop trees and pollute waters. In case of need, they have to hold sacrificial ceremonies to get the permission of the deities. The native minorities living in mountains understand that humans have to conform to nature and rely on nature so that they can gain survival and development.
An old native ethnic member once shared his opinion concerning the eco environment,“Everything is okey today, the only thing that is not okey is disbel[FS:Page]ieving in mountain deities”. The saying is very clear: the nature can’t go harmoniously with those who don’t have any religious beliefs, rules and orders.
When you are travelling among the picturesque landscapes of Pu’er, please follow local rules and customs.
The 13 native minorities are Hani, Yi, Lahu, Wa, Dai, Bulang, Hui, Bai, Yao, Lisu, Miao, Mongolia, and Jingpo, most of whom have well inherited profound ethnic cultures. Stepping into Pu’er, you will find you are actually in a big ethnic customs garden where each village has stories to tell.
Brief Introduction
Honghe University (HU) was established in 1978 and became a diverse, multi-cultural community of about 15,000 students and nearly 1,000 staff and faculty members, with a spacious campus of 200 acres. Over 700 academic staff teach courses in 63 undergraduate majors spread across thirteen Colleges — Humanities, Politics & International Relations, Science, Life Science & Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, Teachers Education, Foreign Languages, Music, Arts, Physical Education, and the International College.
HU makes full use of its own geographical advantages, focusing on promoting the characteristics development strategy of “Internationalization of Education” and carries out a series of international education programs actively such as international student education, Chinese international promotion / Overseas Chinese education, overseas campus, educational joint program, cooperation of scientific research, academic exchanges, international conferences, cultural exchanges etc. HU has established the Confucius Institute with University of Colombo in Sri Lanka and also established cooperation partnership with 12 countries and more than 80 foreign universities、primary and secondary schools and educational institutions.
HU is committed to creating a university culture of multiculturalism with warmth and support to make it more than an educational institute, but an exceptionally welcoming community for a broad diversity of students and faculty. We invite you to join us at HU to explore this exciting life experience with all of us.
Location
Located in Mengzi, the capital city of Honghe Prefecture of Yunnan Province, a central city of southern Yunnan Province, about 150 km north of the Vietnamese border. With a long history of 2100 years and a population of about 360,000, Mengzi is the capital of Honghe Prefecture. The land around Mengzi is an agricultural plateau surrounded by mountains. Mengzi offers a setting that has the peace and serenity of a rural farm town and yet enough of the urban conveniences, where people can go out to wander the hills and contemplate the beauty of the mountains, or go into town and sip a cup of coffee.
The Ancient Tea and Tea Horse Road in Puer City
Reflections of Yunnan: Magical, Beautiful, and Abundant
In the middle of the twentieth century, poet Xu Chi eloquently captured the essence of Yunnan with three evocative words: magical, beautiful, and ample. During this era, Yunnan’s landscape resonated with an authentic and ethereal allure, akin to the ripples spreading from the intense fragrance of the Five Golden Flowers. Against the backdrop of the enduring Love Song for Lusheng, caravans traversed the rugged terrain of Belling Mountains, their bells echoing through vast mountain ridges exposed to winds and rains.
Old Tea-Horse Road in Nakeli, Ninger County, Pu’erUnveiling the Mysteries: The Ancient Tea-Horse Road
While many admired Yunnan’s colorful ethnic customs and legendary love stories, few pondered the origins of the echoing horse bells amid mountains or the rugged voices of horsemen. The term “Ancient Tea-Horse Road” only gained widespread recognition years later, shedding light on the arduous journey of tea from jungle depths, explaining why caravans continued their mountain songs.
Evolution of Pu’er Tea: From Wilderness to Cultivation
Pu’er Tea, born in Yunnan’s borderlands, emerged from wild ancient tea trees to transitional varieties, evolving into today’s cultivated tea gardens. This transformation, spanning millennia, intertwined with the region’s history and natural evolution.
Guardians of Time: Ancient Tea Trees of Qianjia Village and Kunlu Mountain
In Qianjia Village, Zhenyuan, Pu’er, Yunnan, ancient tea trees form the oldest and largest wild community spanning over 4,200 acres. The venerable No. 1 ancient tea tree in Shangbai, Qianjia Village, with an age of 2,700 years, stands alone in the Ailao Mountains, revered for its deep connection to heaven and earth and unwavering loyalty over millennia.
Kunlu Mountain Ancient Tea Garden, a sanctuary over 30 km from Ning’er County Town, boasts a collection of big-leaf, medium-leaf, and small-leaf ancient tea tree species. These trees, adorned with rain-soaked moss and wind-worn rust, are treasured as national heritage, blending seamlessly with the natural and cultural tapestry of Yunnan.
Old Tea-Horse Road in Nakeli, Ninger County, Pu’erTrails of Legacy: Ancient Tea-Horse Roads Extending from Pu’er
The Ancient Tea-Horse Road, originating from Pu’er Tea, extends in all directions with Ning’er as its source and distribution center. These roads include:
- Official Tea-Horse Road to the Capital: Known as the “Previous Road for Official Horses,” linking Ning’er to Kunming and onward to Beijing, while also connecting southwards to Burma and Southeast Asia.
- Pu’er-Tibet Tea-Horse Road: Facilitating trade between Pu’er and Lhasa in Tibet, with branches extending to Burma and India through Baoshan.
- Pu’er-Jiangcheng Tea-Horse Road: Vital for exporting Pu’er Tea abroad, passing through Simao to Ximeng or Menglian.
- Pu’er-Lancang Tea-Horse Road: Also known as the “Dry-season Tea-Horse Road,” traversing from Ning’er to Jingmai Mountain Tea Garden and further south to Laos via Simao and Mengla.
These ancient routes, some dating back to the Qin and Han Dynasties, bridged cultural exchanges over vast distances, carrying the essence of Pu’er Tea and shaping its rich cultural heritage.
Enduring Legacy: Caravans of Hope and Heritage
For generations, caravans embarked on the ancient roads laden with Pu’er Tea, embodying hope and perseverance amidst sweat and toil. These wandering caravans, like clouds drifting through rain forests and canyons, traversed mountains towards the Himalayas and beyond, enriching global tea culture with the unique essence of Pu’er.
In summary, Yunnan’s Ancient Tea-Horse Road stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of exploration and trade, weaving together nature, culture, and history across millennia, and securing Pu’er Tea’s place as a globally cherished icon of heritage and charm.
The Tea Horse Ancient Road in Ning’er County
The Tea Horse Ancient Road in Ning’er County spans towns like Ning’er Town, Mohei Town, Dehua Township, and Tongxin Township within Ning’er Hani and Yi Autonomous County, Pu’er City. Named after the Tang and Song Dynasties’ “Tea Horse Trade,” this ancient transportation route originated from Puer Prefecture (now Ning’er County). It played a crucial role in transporting Pu’er tea domestically and internationally, evolving from the ancient “Southern Silk Road” through various historical periods.
Historical Significance and Development
Since its establishment during the Qing Dynasty in 1729 AD, Puer Prefecture has been pivotal in the development of the Tea Horse Ancient Road, boasting a history of 280 years. This route facilitated trade and cultural exchange across southern Yunnan and beyond, contributing significantly to regional unity and economic prosperity.
Preserved Sections of the Road
- Tea An Tang Tea Horse Ancient Road Site
- Located approximately 12 kilometers long, paved with variously shaped mountain stones, and featuring visible horse hoof prints along its 2-meter-wide path.
- Kongqueping Tea Horse Ancient Road Site
- Extending approximately 27 kilometers, paved with limestone, gravel, and other stones, showcasing the road-building techniques of ancient times.
- Nakeri Tea Horse Ancient Road Site
- Approximately 30 kilometers in length, paved with stone slabs and gravel, 1.5-2 meters wide, and notable for its winding stone steps. It served as a crucial route for tea horse posts from southern Yunnan to northern regions.
- Gypsum Well Tea Horse Ancient Road Site
- Spanning around 8 kilometers and paved with gravel, this section is approximately 2 meters wide.
- Shiya Po Tea Horse Ancient Road Site
- Approximately 6.5 kilometers long, featuring a well-preserved stone-lined section of about 500 meters, with a width of approximately 2.6 meters. This segment is currently the widest discovered part of the Tea Horse Ancient Road.
Cultural and Economic Impact
Ning’er is celebrated globally as the origin and distribution center of “Pu’er Tea,” deeply intertwined with the historical legacy of the Tea Horse Ancient Road. This route served as a vital lifeline for southwestern China’s diverse ethnic groups, fostering economic prosperity, cultural exchange, and regional unity.
Research and Cultural Value
The Tea Horse Ancient Road holds immense historical and cultural significance, offering valuable insights into ancient trade routes, cultural exchanges, and the development of regional identities in China’s history.
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