Exposure! The Unknown Beauty of Jingmai Mountain!

Jingmai Mountain: A Guide to a Real-Life Shangri-La 🍃 Jingmai Mountain has been all over my feed lately, so I'm jumping on the bandwagon! 🔥 Here’s a super detailed guide to Jingmai Mountain to help you easily explore this real-life Shangri-La. 📍 Address: Jingmai Mountain is located in Huimin Town, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province. Like a treasure hidden deep in the mountains, it is east of Menghai County in Xishuangbanna, west of Myanmar, and at the junction of Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Myanmar. Its unique geographical location gives it a mysterious charm. 🚗 Transportation: - Self-driving: It takes about 3–4 hours from Pu'er City or Xishuangbanna. Note that some mountain roads are steep, so an SUV is more suitable 🚙. Be sure to fill up your gas tank in town before heading to Jingmai Mountain, because there are no gas stations there ⛽. - Public transportation: First, take a bus from Pu'er Passenger Station to Lancang County (about 3 hours), then transfer to a rural bus to Jingmai Mountain (about 1.5 hours). This is suitable for backpackers on a budget 🎒. If you are prone to motion sickness, remember to bring motion sickness medicine 💊. 🎫 Booking Guide: Jingmai Mountain currently has free admission, but you need to make a reservation in advance on the "Jingmai Mountain Tourism Reservation Platform" WeChat official account. Just fill in your personal information and travel date. It's super simple! 📸 Must-See Attractions: 1. Wengji Ancient Village: A thousand-year-old Bulang ethnic village where stone roads, stilted buildings, Buddhist temples, and ancient tea forests are perfectly integrated, full of historical charm. In the early morning, when the village is shrouded in mist, the villagers start roasting tea to welcome guests, and the whole village is filled with the aroma of tea 🍵. Highly recommended photo spots include the century-old Bodhi tree next to the ancient opera stage and the viewing platform at the village gate, where you can overlook the sea of clouds. It's breathtakingly beautiful 🤩! 2. Nuogang Ancient Village: With a strong Dai ethnic flavor, the pool in the center of the village reflects the blue sky and bamboo buildings, as if time has stopped here 🕙. You can participate in the Dai ethnic handmade tea-making experience (about CNY 30/person) and make your own Pu'er tea, which is very meaningful. 3. Dapingzhang Ancient Tea Forest: Hike through the ancient tea tree forest, where the ancient tea trees are "old treasures." The trunks are also covered with "crab claws," which are said to be local medicinal materials. Find a guide and listen to him tell the legend of "Tea Ancestor Pa Aileng" as you walk, as if you have traveled back to ancient times 🧙‍♀️. 4. Yudiao Tea Mountain Viewing Platform: A great place to watch the sunrise 🌅. At sunrise, the sea of clouds churns, and if you're lucky, you can see the Buddha's light after the rain. Photography enthusiasts, don't miss it! You can go there at 5am to find a good spot! 🍱 Food Recommendations: 1. Tea Feast: Tea-fried eggs, cold tea tips, and tea-flavored stewed chicken—the perfect fusion of tea and ingredients. Every bite is super satisfying. The tea feast at Wengji "Abaile" Restaurant has the best reputation 👍. 2. Ecological Wild Vegetables: Water fern, stinky vegetable omelet, and banana flower soup. These mountain ingredients are fresh and healthy 🥗. 3. Must-Drink Beverages: Ancient tree roasted tea, slightly bitter and sweet. You'll love it after one sip. Paoluda, a coconut-flavored iced drink, is perfect for a Jingmai Mountain afternoon. Have a glass and instantly cool off 🧊. 🏠 Accommodation Recommendations: 1. Bailian Jingmai Mountain Manor: A luxury hotel surrounded by tea gardens, with an infinity pool facing the sea of clouds and a great Pu'er tea SPA experience. However, the price is a bit expensive, about CNY 1,500+/night 💰. 2. Wengji Ancient Banyan Tree Inn: Converted from a Bulang ethnic boss's own wooden building, you can see the ancient tea mountains when you open the window. You can also listen to insects and watch the stars at night. It's super cost-effective, CNY 200–400/night 💤. 3. Nuogang Rainforest Tent Camp: Camping lovers, don't miss it! Camp under the stars, and a guide will take you to find fireflies. It's romantic and fun. Reservations are required, CNY 380/person including dinner 🌠. 👀 Fun Things to Do: In addition to the above, you can also go to the Ancient Tea Horse Road ruins, retrace the old road of the horse caravans, touch the deep horseshoe prints on the stone slabs, and feel the weight of history. You can also stroll around the ancient village, chat with the enthusiastic villagers, and experience the local customs. Or, participate in a bonfire party and sing and dance with the ethnic minorities to feel their enthusiasm and joy 🎉. 🎈 Precautions: 1. Best Season: November–April of the following year is the dry season, when the probability of seeing the sea of clouds is high and the scenery is super beautiful. The Cherry Blossom Valley blooms in February, and the tea picking season in September is also very lively. You can choose your travel time according to your own time and preferences 🌸. 2. What to Wear: The temperature difference between morning and evening in Jingmai Mountain is large, so remember to bring a light jacket 🧥. You should also wear comfortable hiking shoes for easy travel. If you go during the rainy season (June–August), be sure to bring waterproof gear 🌂. 3. Cultural Taboos: In the ancient village, sacred trees cannot be climbed, and you should not step on the threshold by the fire pit. Remember to hold the bowl with both hands when drinking tea to show respect 🙌. 4. Tea Buying Tips: If you want to buy tea, be careful about buying cheap "ancient tree tea." You can try the loose tea sold by the villagers (CNY 100–300/0.5 kg). Try it before you buy it to avoid getting ripped off. My friends, Jingmai Mountain is really a super worthwhile place to go. Stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the peace and beauty of nature. Believe me, you won't want to leave once you come 💖.