Deep in the heart of Southern Yunnan there exist tea trees unlike any other on Earth. The jungles of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the districts of Simao and Lincang are home to the oldest tea trees in the world. In these regions grow tea trees that range in age from several centuries to over a millennium, and the tea that is made from their leaves is called Pu’er.
The queen of tea trees, a cultivating ancient tea tree growing on the slope of Xiangzhuqing, Jinxiu Village, with the height of 9.30 meters, diameter of 1.84 meters and circumference of 5.84 meters. It has a history of over 3200 years according to the research of Professor Wang Guangzhi. Although it has been through many generations of vicissitudes of life, it is still flourishing and full of vitality. Known as “the largest and oldest artificially cultivated ancient tea tree on the earth”, the folks also called it as the ancestor of tea in Jinxiu Village.
Jinxiu Village of Xiaowan Town boasts the ancient tea trees, with 2000 mu cultivated tea plantation and 3000 mu wild tea trees. It is 50 km east to the Fengqing County. The ancient trees cover the area from Longtang River in the east, Tengmieshan River in the west and Zhafang River in the north. With the altitude of 1750 to 2580 meters, Jinxiu Village offers the favorable environment for tea trees.
The Xiangzhuqing Ancient Tea Tree is estimated to be more than 3,200 years old , and its age is nearly 1000 years older than Emperor Qinshihuang. Beside the tea tree king, there are still more than 1,400 descendants of her, with wave of green tea and full of vitality. On the holidays, people will come to the toast. In May of 2006, more than 5,000 people from 8 ethnic minorities including the Miao, Yi, Yi and Tibetan ethnic groups from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia gathered in the Lancang River and worshiped the teat tree-the largest ancient tea tree on the earth.
There are more than 14,000 ancient cultivated tea trees around the Xiangzhuqing Ancient Tea Tree. They are concentrated and luxuriant. The root shape is magical and unique. Some are like the red deer horns, the Olympic torch, a couple who live with each other,also the tortoises, they are hovering over the mountains on the banks of the Lancang River, absorbing the nectar of nature. These ancient tea tree resources are the precious living fossils and the powerful testimony to the center of the origin of tea trees and the long history of tea cultivation.
The “ancestor of tea”stands proudly in the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Lancang River. With history of 3000 years, it is still flourishing, pure and noble. Whenever the wind blows, the sun shines on her tens of thousands of leaves. Her existence is a mystery. Just as it appeared, she turned out to be a symbol of the life of the original ecological culture in the core of the world’s tea source. It saved energy of 3,200 years and carry the vitality of life.
Xiaowan Hydropower Station is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River in Fengqing County and Nanrun County of Yunnan Province, 49 km from the county seat. Lancang River and Heihui River rush to the station, forming the fantastic landscape on the bank. It offers the sights of clusters of peaks, deep valley and rare animals in the forest. With a thin double curved arch concrete dam and a maximum height of 292m, Xiaowan is the important place of Lancang River.
Best Time to Visit
It is an ideal choice for the travelers who have a crush on tea culture to visit the ancestor of tea tree. Travelers can visit in March to May to appreciate the charming landscape and rare ancient tea trees, also get rid of the rainy season.
Accommodation
Travelers can stay in Jinxiu Village and learn more local tea culture. If you want a high-quality accommodation, you can go to the Fengqing County and Lincang City.
Cizhong, a Tibetan word meaning a big village, is a village co-inhabited by Tibetan, Naxi, and Chinese Han. It is famous for a 100-year-old Cizhong Catholic Church. More than 100 years ago, French missionaries built a Catholic church here. There are seven ethnic groups in Cizhong Village, including Tibetan, Han, Lisu, Naxi, Bai and Nu. Today the relationship between Tibetan Catholics and Tibetan Buddhists is generally cordial. The two communities celebrate traditional festivals together and interfaith marriages are no longer rare.
Cizhong Village is an administrative village in Yanmen Township, Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Located in a gentle slope on both sides of the Lancang River Gorge, it borders Gongshan County of Nujiang Prefecture in the east, Cikatong Village in Xiaru Township in the west, Badong Village in Yanmen Township in the south, and Chunduole Village of Yanmen Township in the north, with an average altitude of 1,800 meters.
The climate in Cizhong belongs to cold temperate mountain monsoon climate. The climate is greatly affected by altitude. The latitude effect is not obvious. As the altitude rises, the temperature decreases and the precipitation increases. Most of the seasons are unclear. The winter is long and the summer is short. The dry season and wet season are usually obvious. The average annual rainfall is 633.7 mm. The precipitation in the rainy season from May to October accounts for 77.5% of the annual precipitation.
Tourists need to get to Shangrila first and then transfer to Deqin county. Long-distance bus is the main transport means getting to Cizhong Village. Every day, there are many shuttle buses to Cizhong from Deqin County. The last bus from Deqin to Cizhong is 3 p.m.
There are buses running from Deqin to Badong via Cizhong, Deqin to Cizhong Village, and Deqin to Weixi via Yanmen township. It takes less than 2 hours from Deqin to Cizhong. Except the buses from Deqin to Badong, visitors shall take another 20 minutes to get to Cizhong by walking.
The best time to visit Cizhong is from March to May and June to August. Of course, every Monday is the best time to visit Cizhong, because visitors can experience Catholic devoutness to Catholicism.
Cizhong Catholic Church
It is a French Catholic church, first established in the 6th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (A.D.1867). The church is constituted with French buildings and Chinese pavilions, special in architecture. It is one of Yunnan’s most important churches.
A good rest plays a significant part in a travel, so choosing a favored lodging place in Cizhong Village should be taken into account. Most local families can offer accommodation. Here we recommend Songtsam Cizhong Lodge, Deqin Qianxi Hotel.
Yubeng Village
Yubeng Village is situated at the foot of the Meili Snow Mountain Range. From Upper Yubeng, trekkers have access to the Base Camp, and Ice Lake hikes. From Lower Yubeng, you can find the paths to the Sacred Waterfall, and if you are a hardcore hiker, Holy Lake, which from a higher vantage point, has an unobstructed view of the Kawa Karpo Peak (6,740 meters), and most of the rest of the mountain range.
Meili Snow Mountain
Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 1930s, they were praised by American scholars as the most beautiful mountains in the world. Meili Snow Mountain boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which are more than 6,000 meters above the sea level. The highest peak Kawagebo, which rises to 6,740 metres, has never been summited.
Feilaisi Monastery, Deqin
Feilai temple, the best place to watch goden peaks of Meili mountain at sunrise. So if u plan to watch sunrise, it’s absolutely a good idea to live at Feilai temple the night before. But actually it is unusual to see the golden peaks. The peaks of the mountains are often surrounded with clouds due to the high altitude they are. And this makes more interesting for Meili.
►Many villagers have their own wine. Tourists can have a taste if interested.
► Respect local customs and culture.
15 Days Three Parallel Rivers Overland Adventure with Dulongjiang River Valley and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking
9 Days Shangri-La Circle Tour and Three Parallel Rivers Adventure (Depart from Lijiang)
13 Days Three Parallel Rivers Circle Adventure with Tiger Leaping Gorge and Yubeng Village Hiking Tour
Specialising in the famous Dali cuisine, this restaurant is fitted out and decorated with the Bai ethnic characteristics. Recommended dishes include Dali cheese (ru shan or milk fan), seaweed fried with taro, sour and spicy fish, and chicken fried with Er’kuai (rice cake). Nearby sites include the Green Lake Park, Former Site of Yunnan Military Academy, and Yunnan University etc.
Add: 1st floor of Yunnan Provincial Library, Qianju St.
Tel: 0871-65332212
Transport
Public bus No. 125, 133, stop at Yunnan Provincial Library.
Located in Xigong Dock area (in the Dianchi National Resort) this restaurant is well known for its seafood menu. Besides this restaurant, there are also dozens of other serving seafood and many other examples of local and ethnic food.
Add: Xigong Dock, Dianchi Rd.
Tel: 0871-65710699
Transport
Public bus No. 44, 73, A1, stop at Xigong Dock
This elegantly decorated restaurant in a building with Kunming’s vintage architecture serves authentic Yunnan cuisine but at the same time has created a series of enjoyable dishes which are customer favorites. Nearby sites include the Nanping Pedestrian Street, Golden Horse Archway and Jade Rooster Archway etc.
Add: 43, Xiangyun Street, downtown
Tel: 0871-63622929
Transport
Public bus No. 71, 118, stop at east entrance to Nanping Pedestrian Street
Yunnan Family Restaurant can hold over 1,000 people. With simple and primitive fitment, it is full of amorous feelings of minorities. It also displays furniture, vessel, farm implements and totem and so on with a history of several hundred years.
Entering this restaurant is just like entering a folklore museum; meanwhile, it concentrates the catering essence of numerous ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province and represents the top level banquet of chieftain at that time.
Recommended dishes include rice liquor, Cross-bridge Rice Noodle, and pork ribs cooked with glutinous rice etc.
Add: No. 146, Baohai Road
Tel: 0871-67158886
Transport
Public bus No.A2, stop at Kunming International Convention and Exhibition centre.
Situated in the middle of Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province, Chenghai Lake which is also called Heiwuhai is wide in the north and south but narrow in the opposite direction. It is the second largest freshwater lake in western Yunnan as well as one of the three major lakes in the world. Geologically, it is a kind of Diastrophic Lake formed in the middle Cenozoic tertiary period about 12 million years ago when the graben shaped because of the Himalayan orogeny, and hence the water accumulated into the graben to form the lake.
There are three natural sulphur mineral springs in the south bank of Chenghai Lake. The clean in the north side is regarded as the ideal resort for natural bathing and the plateau training place for aquatic sports. In 1988, Chenghai Lake became the world’s most famous “Blue Treasure Lake” when people successfully bred artificial spirulina using the fresh water in the lake.
The most striking thing about Chenghai Lake is the rare natural spirulina which is a unique in Yunnan and even China. At present, there are only three watersheds in the world that grow such kind of unique algae, one is the Tankers Lake in Mexico, the other is Lake Chad in Africa, and the third is Chenghai Lake in Yongsheng County. In 1985, Yunnan university “alpine lake ecological investigation” first discovered Chenghai spirulina groups. Every summer, Chenghai Lake will turn blue-green with a special fragrance, commonly known as “Xiangshuimian”(香水面), which is a special consor product called “algal bloom” of the natural spirulina.
Lake chenghai, which flow to the jinsha River, the total length of 38 km.At the end of Emperor Qianlong in Qing dynasty, water drop cannot be dredged.But still have Jiulong spring , Qingyi spring ,empties into the river.
Chenghai Lake is not only rich in fish, but also beautiful and attractive in scenery. To travel in the boat, tourists can view nothing but the vast shining water and the mysterious frog; to walk along the green coastal terraces, visitors can see hundreds of cottages, as if entering a picturesque wonderland. There is no frost in the four seasons. The beaches in the northern bay are soft and clean, which can be used for swimming and other aquatic entertainment. The existing roads in the west bank of Chenghai Lake connect north and south, to provide a quite convenient transportation. This beautiful and treasure place is great resort.
Chenghai Lake is filled with a strong ethnic customs. Yi people living in Jinlan village will celebrate the thrilling and exciting “sword-pole climbing and plunging into a sea of flames” festival which will amazes the visitors beyond our expression.
Drive a chartered bus to Chenghai Lake for three and a half hours from Lijiang Ancient Town.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a mountain massif near Lijiang. It is the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. There are 13 peaks all together and the group of mountains stretches about 35 kilometers from north to south. The highest peak is named Shanzidou at an altitude of 5,596m. On the eastern side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, there is a deep valley where the Yangtze River runs. Tiger Leaping Gorge is in the northern part of the valley and Yuhu Village Is located in the south of the valley. Travelers can see Jade Dragon Snow Mountain over Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yuhu Village, Black Dragon Pool Park and other locations.
Haba Snow Mountain is a mountain in southeast of Shangri-La, rising above the northwest side of Tiger Leaping Gorge, opposite off Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with the highest peak of 5,396 m. It boasts glaciers, lakes and waterfalls and contains one of the best preserved nature reserves. Each year from June to August, millions of azaleas are in blossom. To avoid the rainy season, the best time to travel Haba Snow Mountain is mid-March to June, mid-September to mid-December
The Dongba Valley is home and livelihood of Naxi people. Traditional houses of Naxi and other peoples are open to visit. Dongba Valley is perched at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and about 15 kilometers southwards to the Lijiang Old Town. It is a rift valley cracked during the ancient orogenic movement period. With the total length of 9 kilometers, Dongba Valley is an uncanny workmanship by nature. It is also the only way to enter the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area.
Dongba Valley has turned over a mysterious page to the world. Apart form the steep cliffs and caves; it is like an insular paradise for the Naxi people. Various stalactites, dry vines, strange trees, rare birds and flying waterfalls add the Dongba Valley a lot of vitality. Being the home of Naxi people, it has strong ethnic content.
Jiangren Street
Upon entered the Dongba Valley, visitors will see a large plaza and a long and narrow street behind it. Girls and boys are dancing and singing in the plaza in order to welcome the each tourist’s coming. As the main street of Dongba Valley, Jiangren Street is an original trading land with numerous shops scattered. Jewelries, fur and medicines can be found at anywhere.
Linbo Bridge
Located at the end of the Jiangren Street, Linbo Bridge is a suspension bridge beneath where runs a beautiful lake. Standing on the bridge, you are lucky to appreciate the distant mist-covered water and flickering Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Dongba Text
Dongba text can be seen in many scenic spots in Lijiang. Used by Naxi people, it has been rated as the only living hieroglyph in the world. Dongba scripture, made from more than 1,400 dongba words has been remained. Religion of geomantic omen, lifestyle and culture of Naxi people can be found in the Dongba scripture. It has a profound collectible value that there are less than dozen countries reserves.
Dongba Lifestyle
Dongba culture is of long standing though it divers from Chinese culture. For Naxi people, the female is responsible to farm and do the housework while the male only needs to remain at home reading. Therefore, females own the predominate roles and men are engaged in culture and crafting, which forms the common fashion.
Highlights
The walk along the lake on the edge of the forest – another boardwalk – is worth taking and passes a cemetery with memorials for extinct species, giving the name of the animal, the date of death of the last member of the family and the cause of extinction.
The Road to Heaven
To the Jade Water Village – en route, is “The Road to Heaven”. It is a tranquil spot, its main feature is a long, colorful floor mural, showing the three realms: hell, earth and heaven, of the Naxi religion. On the right, sculptures represent good spirits and gods; evil spirits are depicted on the left.
Road and path
At the top of the road is a small hermitage and a set of temples with huge Buddha and Naxi Guides statues, but the favourite is the walk back down through the peace garden. This is a set of glades and paths filled with wind chimes. The temples and garden face the holy Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
A stone seal, a representation of the Naxi guardian angel and a carved dragon. but the prices here are higher than haggling would achieve in the old town.
6 Days Lijiang and Shangrila Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking from Daju Town
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains (玉龙雪山) are a small group of peaks close to the city of Lijiang. The nearest slope is only about 30 kilometers north of the Dayan Ancient City District, and the mountain can be clearly seen from the Black Dragon Pool next to the ancient district.
The beauty of the Old City is also due to the integrity of geographical nature and harmony. In 30 km northwest to the Old City lies the unconquerable Yulong Snow Mountain of 5,596 m and the relics of glacier in the Quaternary Period. The spring is divided into three branches to flow into the Old City relatively from east, middle and west.
Black Dragon Pool (also Heilongtan), or Jade Spring(Yuquan) Park is the main headwater of the Yushui River which goes through the Old Town. People believe that the gods of the Naxi people are living in the chestnut woods, beside the mouth of springs, behind the carved doors and below the bridges. The springs come from the god-protected mountains and gather in this place and finally form the dragon pool. Then water goes down a waterfall and becomes the Yuhe River, pouring life to the Old Town.
The Dongba culture is a most inclusive term referring mainly to the language and scriptures. The Dongba language is actually composed of 1,400 picture-like characters and symbols that are still used by Dongbas, researchers and artists of the culture. It is by now the only living hieroglyph in the world and is regarded as a precious cultural relic of mankind. On August 30, 2003, the Dongba classical literature was accepted as a written world heritage by UNESCO
Xizhou Town(喜洲镇) belongs to Dali City of Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, located in the north of Dali City. Xizhou Ancient Town is located 18 kilometers north of Dali ancient town, Cangshan mountain in the west and Erhai Lake in the east. There are a large number of Bai folk residence, it is also the birthplace of famous Xizhou Baba. Wandering through the ancient town, looking at the old man in Bai costume, the small shops selling Baba(Baba is Yunnan dialect, meaning the food like a round flat cake and pancake), the Bai folk house and so on, are all full of strong Bai customs and amorous feelings.
Xizhou is not far from Dali Ancient Town. With a distance of about 18 kilometers, if you stay in Dali old town and have leisure time, you can walk or ride a bike to Xizhou ancient town, enjoying the beautiful scenery on the way. Surely, other vehicles are also available.
You don’t have to go to bus station. You can beckon a passing midibus on the roadside of Xiaguan or Dali Old Town. It takes about 5-8 yuan. About detail information, please ask the driver.
There is minibus from Dali old town to Xizhou, costing 7 yuan. The point of departure is Cangshan Gate(苍山门), located at No.5, Yuer Road(玉洱路), Dali Ancient Town, Dali City.
There are many taxis in Dali City. Departing from Dali Ancient Town, the taxi fare is about 50 yuan, and the journey is about 30 minutes. Obviously, taking taxi is convenient and flexible, but expensive.
Like taxi, chartered bus is easily available around Dali Ancient Town and scenic spots.
Tips:
1. It takes 1 hour from Xiaguan to Xizhou. You can go back and forth that day or spend the night in Xizhou and attend local evening party. Then, visit the nearby butterfly spring and other attractions on the following day.
2. Tours Including Xizhou: 1 Day Dali Highlights Tour
1 Day Dali City Highlights Group Tour
2 Days Dali City Tour from Kunming by Speed Train
3. If you plan to travel in Dali, we can arrange a tour for you including tour guide and driver. Please contact us, Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com; Tel: +86-871-63511469.
Xiangzhuqing Ancient Tea Tree in Fengqing County Deep in the heart of Southern Yunnan there exist tea trees unlike any other on Earth. The jungles of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous...
Why is Cizhong Village So Special? Cizhong, a Tibetan word meaning a big village, is a village co-inhabited by Tibetan, Naxi, and Chinese Han. It is famous for a...
Kunming Shiping Guild Hall, located at No. 24 Zhonghe Alley, Cuihu South Road, is a historic and culturally rich building. Built in the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong period over 200...
Specialising in the famous Dali cuisine, this restaurant is fitted out and decorated with the Bai ethnic characteristics. Recommended dishes include Dali cheese (ru shan or milk fan), seaweed...
Located in Xigong Dock area (in the Dianchi National Resort) this restaurant is well known for its seafood menu. Besides this restaurant, there are also dozens of other serving...
Xiangyun Food City is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Baoshan Street and Xiangyun Street, Wuhua District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. Historical Background: The Xiangyun food...
This elegantly decorated restaurant in a building with Kunming’s vintage architecture serves authentic Yunnan cuisine but at the same time has created a series of enjoyable dishes which are...
Kunming’s Green Lake 1923, also known as the former residence of Wang Jiuling, is located at No. 3, North Green Lake Road. It was built in 1925 by Yunnan...
Yunnan Family Restaurant can hold over 1,000 people. With simple and primitive fitment, it is full of amorous feelings of minorities. It also displays furniture, vessel, farm implements and...
About Chenghai Lake Situated in the middle of Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province, Chenghai Lake which is also called Heiwuhai is wide in the north and south but narrow in...
Why is Dongba Valley so special? The Dongba Valley is home and livelihood of Naxi people. Traditional houses of Naxi and other peoples are open to visit. Dongba Valley is...
Xizhou Town(喜洲镇) belongs to Dali City of Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, located in the north of Dali City. Xizhou Ancient Town is located 18 kilometers north of Dali ancient...
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Address: Building 4, Yifuyuan, Hehong Road, Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Wechat/QQ: 270384698
Office Call: 86-18812220370
Email: Trip@YasoTrip.com
Facebook Page:
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Tel/WhatsApp: +8618088243690
Trip@YasoTrip.com