8 Days Yunnan Dianhong Black Tea and Puer Tea Culture Tour with Ancient Tea Horse Road Hiking
Tour Overview
Yunnan Tea Tours will take you to visit the most popular tea mountains and Tea Plantations in Yunnan Province. Yunnan is the home town of Puer Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Travel...
Code of Tour: YET0000060904
Length of Travel: 8 Day
Destinations of Tour: Kunming-Xiaowan-Fengqing-Xilinshan-Xueshan Town-Yunxian-Lincang-Mengku-Lincang-Kunming
Departure City: Lincang
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour:
Yunnan Tea Tours will take you to visit the most popular tea mountains and Tea Plantations in Yunnan Province. Yunnan is the home town of Puer Tea and Dianhong Black Tea. Travel along the Ancient Tea Horse Road, and explore these tea plantations and local tea factories in Dali, Lincang, Puer and XishuangBanna. Chinese tea acts as beverage, pastime, culture icon, and undoubtedly a way of enjoyment for thousands of years. They are spread to the other parts of the world through trading routes of Silk Road and Tea & Horse Road along with silk and porcelain. Experience Chinese tea culture by exploring mist-covered mountains and plantations and meantime pay a visit to magnificent palaces and historical landmarks. Puer Tea and Dianhong Black Tea will be your trip highlights of Yunnan tea tour. Yunnan tea culture tours help you to do a deep research of Chinese tea and have the chance to enjoy various famous tea in Yunnan. How to plan a tea tour of Yunnan? and Yunnan Tea Travel Tips will be very helpful for your China tea trip.
Brief Itinerary
- April 14 Day 1 Arrive Kunming
- April 15 Day 2 Kunming-Xiaowan-Fengqing
- April 16 Day 3 Fengqing
- April 17 Day 4 Fengqing-Big Snow Mountain-Xilinshan Tea Plantation
- April 18 Day 5 Xilinshan-Xueshan Town-Yunxian-Xigui-Lincang
- April 19 Day 6 Lincang-Mengku
- April 20 Day 7 Mengku-Lincang-Kunming
- April 21 Day 8 Departure from Kunming
Details Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kunming
As you delve into the world of tea commerce, you’ll gain insights into the rich tea culture of Yunnan Province and the importance of tea in Chinese society. Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or simply curious about the local customs, a visit to Kangle and Bangsheng Tea Wholesale Markets promises to be a memorable experience.
Day 2: Kunming-Xiaowan-Fengqing
Meet your dirver and local guide, we transfer to Lancang-Mekong River, the upper reach of Mekong River in China. Pay a visit to The Xiaowan Dam (小湾大坝) is an arch dam on the Lancang (Mekong) River in Nanjian County, Yunnan Province, southwest China. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 4,200 MW power station. Constructed between 2002 and 2010 by Huaneng Power International at a cost of ¥32 billion (nearly US$3.9 billion), it is the world’s second highest arch dam at 292 m (958 ft). It is also third highest among dams of all types behind Jinping-I and Nurek and the third largest hydroelectric power station in China.
Continue the driving to Xiangzhuqing village in Xiaowan township of Fengqing County. Pay a visit to Xiangzhuqing Acient Tea Tree or Jinxiu Ancient Tea Tree(锦绣古茶树). In Xiangzhuqing village, lies a massive, ancient tree. Colloquially referred to as the Mother tea tree, this magnificent giant is about 35 feet tall (which is extremely tall for a tea tree), and is so wide that it’s said that it takes eight people holding outstretched hands to full surround the tree. Besides her gargantuan size, this tree is also remarkable for its unmatched history. This ancient tree is recorded as being over 3,200 years old, it is called “the Mother of Tea Trees”.
Transfer to Fengqing County Town in the afternoon. Pay a visit to 3200 Tea Garden of Wyndm Hotel and do a short hiking around the tea garden.
Drink the refine Dianhong Black tea and enjoy the tea art ceremony in Fengqing.
Day 3: Fengqing Dianhong Black Tea Tour
This morning, enjoy the nice view of Xiaowan Dam in Lancang-Mekong River, drive from Xiaowan Township to Fengqing. Visit Dianhong Tea Museum, former Fengqing Tea Factory and Fengqing Tea Research Center(凤庆县茶科所).
After lunch take a tour of the Dianhong Tea Factory(凤庆县工业区滇红集团) and Anshi tea village and plantation(中国滇红诞生地安石) where you can enjoy tasting the black tea and learn about the drying process of the tea leaves and the production.
Yunnan black tea, also known as ‘Dianhong’ (‘Dian’ is the short name for Yunnan province, ‘hong’ meaning red after the deep, red liquor of the brewed tea) is a fully oxidised tea grown high in the mountainous region of Lincang between 1680-1900 metres above sea level. Thanks to the high elevations and mild climate, the growing season in the province is long, with picking taking place from March through to November. If you’ve never tried Yunnan black tea before, then you’re in for a treat. Offering a delicate smokiness on the nose and tongue, Yunnan has layers of caramel and cocoa with light, peppery notes on the finish.
You will have dinner at Tongxin Fine Food Restaurant (同心美食楼) by Li Dehua(李德华) who is Charlie’s classmate.
Stay at Fengqing
Day 4: Fengqing-Ancient Tea Horse Road Hiking-Xilinshan Tea Garden-Anhe
In the morning, experience the Dianhong milk black tea in the hotel reception. Yunnan black tea is fermented and roasted. Tea polyphenols undergo an oxidative reaction under the action of oxidised syrup. Drinking Yunnan black tea with milk can aid the reduction of inflammation and protect the gastric mucosa, and it also has a certain effect on the treatment of ulcers.
Drive to Shidongsi Temple (Stone Cave Temple/石洞寺), start the hiking tour along the Ancient Tea Horse Road from Shidongsi to Fengqing Big Snow Mountain, visit the ancient tea in the original forest in Wanshoushan Mountain. After 6 hours hiking, we arrive at Jiuyaojie Mountain Pass and we will have a nice panoramic view of Xilinshan tea area. Arrive at Tangzikou Village(塘子口) and we finish the Ancient Tea Horse Road hiking and camp around the tea garden.
We will have a nice bonfire party with the help of the local tea farmers and have a nice camping night in Anhe Village (安和村) where is the origin of Xilinshan Anceint Tea (锡林山古茶) created by Charlie Lee (Li Rucan/李如灿). The local gorvernment will support us to arrange the tea tour and activities around Anhe Village of Xueshan Town (雪山镇).
Day 5: Anhe -100KM/3 hours-Xigui-60KM/30minutes-Xigui-Lincang
This morning, we will have a nice experience of Dianhong Black Tea making and tea pick in Xilinshan tea platation in Anhe Village (安和村).
We will have lunch in Xueshan Town, take a tea culture conference with local officials as well.
Transfer along the Nanqiao Reservior,pay a visit to the natural Dakongbeng Hot Spring (大控蚌温泉), cook the eggs prepared by us in the wild hot spring.
Continue the dirving to Yunxian County, drive to Lincang City. Meet the local officials to have dinner together and enjoy Wa ethnic bonfire party with Wa ethnic people.
Stay in Lincang City
Optional to visit Xigui Ancient Tea Garden if time permits.
Visit Manglu Tea Mountain in Xigui located at the bank of Lancang-Mekong River. Visit Xigui tea factory and have lunch in the local family.Visit Nahan(纳罕) and Manggan(曼岗) tea villages as well.
Xi Gui is located in Lincang county, Lincang city, Yunnan. It is developed along the bank of Mekong River (called as Lincang Jiang in Chinese). The fertile soil brought by the Mekong River is very rich in calcium, and it seems to be contributing body.
Recently the road condition to Xi Gui has been drastically improved. It takes less than 5 hours to reach Xi Gui by car from Lincang city center. Under the circumstances, there are increasing number of high-amateur and tourist from all over China and other countries. Generally, they are less experienced in evaluating the quality of tea. As a result, the tea that gives very floral scent is very popular. This kind of flavor can be easily produced if the manufacture lightly fry tea and retain more enzymes that develop floral scent like oolong during sunshine drying on account of enzymatic fermentation. However, the raw pu-erh tea produced with light pan-frying is not suitable for long storage. It develops sort of black tea flavor and noise in taste in a Rutsan Tea(锡林山古茶).
Day 6: Lincang-Mengku-Bingdao-Mengku
This early morning, drive to Mengku Township first, then drive to Bingdao village(冰岛), which is Luhu tribal village surrounded by green mountains and is the origin of the tea plantation in China. You will see several huge ancient tea trees over 2000 years old! You will have a chance to see this rare, unique village of the Lahu people. They are known to wear colorful, traditional clothes.
Visit the 5 villages of Bingdao including Dijie (地界）, Bingdao Laozhai (冰岛老寨), Bawai (坝歪), Nanpo (南迫) and Nuowu Village(糯五). Experience the tea making in Dijie village and have lunch there.
Bing Dao Puerh is named after its village of origin, Bing Dao Village of Mengku County, Yunnan Province, China. Bing Dao means “a village with bamboo gate” in Thai. Local villagers, mainly tribal Thai people, have a documented tea growing history dating back to the 15th century. Bing Dao is made from ancient tea trees (gu shu) more than 300 years old and is stone-pressed in the traditional manner. The trees grow on the sunny side of Bang Ma Mountain, more than 2500m above sea level. As a high mountain tea, Bing Dao brews sweet, rich, and is pleasantly refreshing with almost no astringency. Moreover, it has a lasting sweet after-taste (huigan) in the throat, and is sheng jin in character, meaning that it leaves the palate feeling quenched. The fragrance is lightly citrusy and flowery, with a note of wild honey. Our Bing Dao cake is made with old tea leaves and is a great candidate for further aging.
In the afternoon, drive to Xiaohusai(小户赛) Tea village and Dahusai Village. Stay in the local hostel in tea mountain.
Day 7: Bingdao-Mengku Daxueshan Mountain Hiking-Mengku-Lincang-Kunming
In the morning, we will start the hiking tour to Daxueshan Mountain and Primitive Forest.
Tour Route：Mengku Town——Dahusai Vialle(大户赛村)——Ancient Tea Protection Station(古茶树群落保护管理所)——Observation Tower瞭望塔——Wild Ancient Tea Tree Forest古茶树群落.
Mengku Big Snow Mountain area of Mengku in Lincang is a high alttude area that’s home to many tea gardens. This lovely black tea was processed with care from first flush of spring assamica tea leaves picked from 30 to 40 year old plantation bushes growing naturally at an altitude of 1800 meters.
We will drive to Dahusai Village, and start the 4-KM hiking tour to Ancient Tea Protection Station(古茶树群落保护管理所),Hike 3KM to Observation Tower瞭望塔, hike 2 hours to Wild Ancient Tea Tree Forest古茶树群落 in Mengku Snow Mountain. You will have a picnic lunch in the forest, and hike back to Bingdao Village in the afternoon.
Transfer back to Lincang City. And take the speed train to Kunming.
Day 8: Departure from Kunming
Visit Bangsheng and Kangle Tea Markets in the morning.
Transfer to Kunming Airport for returning.
Service ends.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary; Dinners in tea mountains
- Boutique standard hotels and inns listed in the itinerary;
- English-speaking tour guide;
- 19-seat Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Yunnan Travel Insurance (云南旅游组合保险);
- Free-bottled mineral water everyday;
- Hiking tour in tea mountains
- Camping in Xilinshan Tea Mountain;
- Speed Train tickets from Kunming to Xiaowandong and from Lincang to Kunming.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers(300Yuan/Day/Group for the tour guide; 200Yuan/Day/Group for the driver);
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
- Personal travel accident insurance.
