Daheishan Mountain Ancient Tea Forest in Lafu Village of Mengma Town in Menglian County, Puer

🌍 Geographic & Ecological Value

🌳 Natural Endowment

Location – Situated on the China–Myanmar border, with its highest peak in Menglian County (孟连县). Home to the largest and best-preserved primeval forest along Pu’er’s border.

Ecosystem – With a subtropical rainforest climate, mild temperatures year-round, and abundant rainfall, the area has exceptionally high negative oxygen ion levels, earning it the nickname “Natural Oxygen Bar.” Forest cover exceeds 75%, creating a vibrant “mountain–water–forest–wildlife” ecological tapestry, hosting diverse bird and mammal species.

🍃 Ancient Wild Tea Tree Communities

Distribution – Covering tens of thousands of acres, the wild tea tree community here is among the largest continuous areas of wild tea resources in Yunnan.

Tree Characteristics – Dominated by tall Dali Tea (大理茶) trees, locally called “wild tea.” Their moss- and vine-covered trunks reach impressive heights, with the tallest rising over 20 meters and crown spreads shading vast areas of forest floor.

🍃 Unique Features of Ancient Tea Resources

🌿 Exceptional Heritage

Living Fossils – The tea community exhibits a natural transition from wild to cultivated forms, retaining high drought and pest resistance, offering key genetic material for studying the domestication history of tea.

Ethnic Tradition – For centuries, the Lahu people (拉祜族) have harvested young leaves each spring, producing tea with a clear, fragrant taste and a refreshing after-sweetness, valued for aiding digestion and cooling in summer.

🛡️ Protection Challenges & Measures

Historical Damage – In the early 2000s, speculation in ancient tea drove prices to extremes, leading to destructive harvesting that caused large-scale tree death.

Policy Response – Yunnan Province introduced strict protection measures, requiring registration of ancient tea trees over a certain size or age, banning harmful harvesting, and establishing ecological monitoring stations. Cultural events like local tea competitions have since raised awareness of sustainable use.

🍵 Quality & Value of Lafu Ancient Tea (腊福古茶)

🌸 Flavor Profile

• Appearance – Tea liquor glows golden-yellow and clear.

• Aroma & Taste – Rich, lasting honey fragrance, full-bodied with a slight bitterness that transforms into a rapid, lingering sweetness.

🛠️ Craftsmanship

• Traditional Process – The Lahu sun-drying method preserves the vitality of the leaves, producing tea that combines the floral elegance of oolong with the depth of Pu’er.

• Signature Tea – “Moonlight Golden Branch (月光金枝),” made from centuries-old trees, has a distinctive aroma and character.

💰 Rarity & Market Recognition

• Scarcity Premium – With its rare ecology and age-old trees, Lafu Ancient Tea commands high market prices and has consistent value growth.

• Awards – Winner of the “Ancient Tree Sun-Dried Tea Gold Award” at Menglian’s tea competition, solidifying its status as a regional benchmark.

🏞️ Tourism & Cultural Experiences

🚶 Eco-Tour Routes

• Secret Forest Hike – Trek through primeval rainforest → visit the ancient tea forest at Ladi Luoga (腊地罗嘎) → see the three-tier Huanlian Waterfall (黄连山瀑布) → camp by the reservoir under a morning sea of clouds.

🏯 Cultural Pairings

• Combine with Nayun Ancient Town (娜允古镇) for Dai Tusi heritage, Alooubin Sacred Mountain (阿倮欧滨圣山) for Hani rituals, and Lagu Terraces (腊姑梯田) for breathtaking agricultural landscapes, forming a “Tea + Ethnic Culture” deep travel loop.

🌱 Industry Integration

• Tea–Tourism Projects – Menglian County promotes integrated tea culture tourism, building eco-tea gardens, tea-themed guesthouses, and tea study bases, linking with the Mengma Pu’er Tea Wellness Valley (勐马普洱茶文化养生谷).

• Hands-On Experience – Visitors can join local tea farmers in leaf-picking and processing, and purchase authentic tea directly at the source.

⚠️ Protection & Sustainability Challenges

Ecological Vulnerability – Border location increases the risk of illegal harvesting, with cross-border deforestation previously reported.

Management Conflicts – Overharvesting and neglect of tea gardens cause soil degradation and tree decline, requiring stronger community-led protection.

Balanced Development – Tourism projects must adhere to biodiversity impact assessments and avoid genetic contamination from planting improved tea varieties nearby.

💎 Conclusion

Lafu Daxueshan (腊福大黑山) is a precious “tea tree gene bank” along the Tropic of Cancer, blending ecological wonder, ethnic wisdom, and the evolving history of tea. Sustainable protection, empowered by culture, will ensure this heritage thrives for generations.

🌿 Traveler’s Note

Stepping into the Lafu forest, every tea leaf carries a thousand-year pact between the Lahu people and the ancient trees—whispering the heartbeat of the rainforest and the soul of tea.