Tea Source Land · Homeland of Four Ethnic Groups

Lincang Shuangjiang County — the world's tea tree origin and China's only multi-ethnic autonomous county encompassing Lahu, Wa, Blang, and Dai peoples. A 2-day-1-night itinerary exploring the ten-thousand-mu Mengku Ancient Tea Garden, boating on the mystical Bingdao Lake, and experiencing the four-ethnic co-inhabitation culture, feeling the ecological and cultural charm at the source of the Tea Horse Road.

12,000 Mu

Ancient Tea Garden

Four Ethnic Groups

Co-Inhabited

Millennium

Tea Planting History

Lancang River

Water Source Region

Shuangjiang County Mengku Ten-Thousand-Mu Ancient Tea Garden Landscape

Misty Mengku Great Snow Mountain ancient tea tree clusters

Shuangjiang County Two Days One Night Tea Source Culture Journey

Tea mountain exploration + lake scenery + cultural experience, feel the charm of the world's tea tree origin

                    
Duration
2 Days 1 Night

                    
Main Destinations
Mengku Ancient Tea Garden, Bingdao Lake Scenic Area, Shennong Shrine, Mangnuo Stone Carvings, Four-Ethnic Customs Garden

                    
Suitable For
Tea Culture Enthusiasts, Nature Explorers, Ethnic Researchers, Photographers

                    
Per Capita Budget
¥340-¥590

Tea Mountain & Secret Realm Exploration

Nature & Ecology

Itinerary Highlights

Explore the ancient tea garden in the morning, boat on Bingdao Lake in the afternoon.

Attractions

Mengku Ancient Tea Garden

The core area of the world's tea tree origin, preserving 12,000 mu of wild ancient tea tree clusters, including the Great Snow Mountain sightseeing boardwalk, Tea Ancestor Sacrificial Altar, and Tea Culture Museum — the most important germplasm gene bank for Pu'er tea.

Bingdao Lake Scenic Area

A plateau lake ecotourism area with a water area of 15 square kilometers, featuring a lakeside boardwalk, viewing platforms, and a wetland park. Known as the "Sapphire of Dianxi Nan," it serves as a habitat for rare bird species.

Gongnong Blang Ancient Village

A traditional Chinese village preserving intact Blang stilt-style building clusters, including the village guardian tree, sacrificial square, and ancient tea workshops — a living museum for understanding the Blang people's Tea Ancestor faith.

Practical Information

Travel Tips

Wear slip-resistant shoes for tea mountain trails
Protect against UV exposure at the lake area
Respect Tea Ancestor beliefs

Accommodation Recommendations

Tea mountain view B&Bs
Lakeside resort hotels
Ethnic-themed inns

Culture & History Exploration

Tradition & Faith

Itinerary Highlights

Pay homage at Shennong Shrine in the morning, experience four-ethnic customs in the afternoon.

Attractions

Shennong Shrine

The sacred site of Chinese Tea Ancestor worship, originally built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. It comprises the Grand Shennong Hall, Tea Culture Stele Forest, and millennium-old ancient tea trees, serving as the most important spiritual symbol of tea culture in Pu'er tea producing regions.

Mangnuo Stone Carving Group

A provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, preserving Yuan and Ming Dynasty Dai Buddhist stone carvings, including stupa bases, mantra steles, and mythical beast reliefs — bearing witness to the spread of Theravada Buddhism in southwestern Yunnan.

Four-Ethnic Customs Garden

A multi-ethnic cultural exhibition area integrating the architectural arts, song and dance performances, and intangible heritage skills of the Lahu, Wa, Blang, and Dai peoples — a living cultural space for experiencing four-ethnic harmonious co-inhabitation.

Practical Information

Special Experiences

Tea Ancestor sacrificial ceremony
Ethnic costume wearing
Traditional tea-making experience

Return Trip Suggestions

Allow time for souvenir shopping
Mengku ancient tree tea
Ethnic handicrafts

Shuangjiang County Must-Try Foods

Tea Leaf Crisp

A tea hometown specialty snack — fresh tea leaves coated in batter and deep-fried to perfection. Crispy outside with a fresh tea aroma, it embodies the innovative fusion of tea and culinary culture.

Lahu Roast Meat

A traditional Lahu delicacy — free-range pork baked in bamboo tubes with wild spices, crispy outside and tender inside. Listed in the provincial intangible cultural heritage directory, it represents the highest etiquette in Lahu hospitality.

Dai Style Sour Stew

A Dai specialty dish — seasonal mountain delicacies stewed with sour bamboo shoots, tangy and spicy to stimulate the appetite. Hailed as the "King of Sour Flavors in Dianxi Nan," it embodies the culinary wisdom of the tropical rainforest.

Shuangjiang County Travel Tips

Best Seasons