Stayed 5 days in Jingmai Mountain, unlocking 90% of the hidden experiences unknown to most

Babes! Just “escaped” from Jingmai Mountain—not because it’s not fun, but because it’s too addictive! Waking up every day to the orchid fragrance of ancient tea trees, drinking tea freshly roasted by a Bulang grandma, lying in a starry tent at night watching the Milky Way, even the air you breathe tastes sweet with tea~ This post reveals all my secret routes and pitfall tips, all personally tested and practical. Save it and go straight away! ✈️【Before the trip: These pitfalls I’ve fallen into, don’t repeat!】 1. Don’t pick transportation randomly! My painful lesson Jingmai Mountain is in Lancang County, Pu’er, very far from the city! At first, I wanted to fly to Pu’er Simao Airport, but after checking, it takes 3 hours to drive from the airport to Jingmai Mountain, all winding mountain roads (my friend drove this route last year and almost went off a cliff in the rain). In the end, I chose to fly to Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport, then share a local driver’s car (300 RMB/day, the driver is Bulang and tells stories about the ancient tea forest), 2.5 hours direct, and you can stop at the “Jingmai Mountain Gate Scenic Viewpoint” to shoot panoramic views of the tea sea—totally worth it! - Self-driving reminder: definitely drive an SUV! Near Nuogan Ancient Village, I hit a bad road section where a regular car’s chassis scraped, but the driver’s SUV passed easily; download offline maps in advance, there’s no signal in Wengji Ancient Village, navigation will “lose connection.” 2. Must-bring items list (regret missing any) - Clothes: Don’t believe “Yunnan summers aren’t cold”! Jingmai Mountain is over 1200m elevation, with a 10°C temperature difference between morning and night. I went in July and brought a light jacket; it felt chilly walking in the tea forest in the morning; during rainy season (May–October), waterproof shoes are a must—I stepped in mud in the ancient tea forest and almost fell into the tea field; - Others: Sunscreen (SPF50+! No shade in the tea forest, I got sunburned for 2 days, my neck peeled), mosquito repellent (mosquitoes in the Dai village at dusk can “carry you away”), small bags (to hold picked tea leaves, farmers will pack them but bringing your own is cleaner), cash (the small shop in Mangjing Ancient Village only accepts cash, I wanted to buy a popsicle but had no change), camera (phone photos can’t capture the ancient tea trees’ grandeur, I brought a mirrorless camera, 100% good shots). 3. Best time: Choose the right season for more fun - Spring tea season (Feb–Apr): Must come! You can pick tea with farmers (30 RMB/person, farmers will help you roast the picked tea to take home), and drink freshly made ancient tree tea, full of orchid fragrance in every sip; - Dry season (Oct–Dec): Weather is very clear, no rain visiting ancient villages, unobstructed starry nights, and you can eat Dai-style sour bamboo shoot fish (less fresh in rainy season); - Pitfall: Don’t come June–Aug! I went during a typhoon, the tea forest trail was closed for 2 days, stuck in the village, super boring. 🚗【Transportation route: My 5 days 4 nights itinerary, no detours and fun】 Day 1: Xishuangbanna → Jingmai Mountain Gate → Wengji Bulang Ancient Village - Depart Xishuangbanna at 10 AM, arrive Jingmai Mountain Gate at 12:30 PM (ID registration, free), have lunch near the gate at “Tea Farmer Restaurant” (recommend stir-fried tea-flavored ribs, 58 RMB/portion, ribs wrapped in tea leaves, super fragrant); - At 2 PM arrive at Wengji Ancient Village, first go to “Wengji Ancient Village Viewpoint” to shoot the tea sea, at 4 PM stroll the village (blue stone slab roads with great vibe, every household has bougainvillea at the door), at 6 PM watch sunset at the viewpoint (tea sea turns golden, breathtaking). Day 2: Wengji Ancient Village → Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Core Area → Mangjing Bulang Ancient Village - Wake up at 8 AM, have breakfast at “Yan Ye’s” in the village (Bulang sticky rice + pickles, 15 RMB fills you up); - At 9 AM go to the ancient tea forest core area (book in advance on “Jingmai Mountain Tourism” WeChat public account, limited to 300 people daily), follow the guide along the old Tea Horse Road, arrive at “Tea King Tree” at 11 AM (2800 years old, very spectacular), rest at a pavilion drinking roasted tea (grandma taught me to roast tea: first roast leaves until fragrant, then boil water, one sip warms you up); - At 2 PM go to Mangjing Ancient Village, visit “Mangjing Ancient Tea Garden,” experience tea picking (30 RMB/person, half an hour picking, very rewarding), at 5 PM listen to the village elder tell stories about the tea ancestor (super interesting, Bulang tea planting has a thousand-year history). Day 3: Mangjing Ancient Village → Nuogan Dai Ancient Village → Jingmai Mountain Starry Sky Camp - Depart at 9 AM to Nuogan Dai Ancient Village, arrive at 10 AM, first visit “Village Heart Well” to watch Dai girls fetch water (don’t take photos, it’s a sacred place for the Dai); - At 11 AM experience Dai handmade paper making (at the cultural station, 50 RMB/person, using bark and tea leaves to make paper, can take as souvenir), at 12 PM have lunch at “Yu Ying’s” (sour bamboo shoot fish + Dai-style mixed vegetables, 45 RMB for 2 people, very appetizing); - At 2 PM stroll Nuogan Ancient Village (quieter than Wengji, huge mango trees), at 4 PM go to starry sky camp, set up tents, watch the tea sea, at 10 PM watch the Milky Way (naked eye can see the Milky Way band, stars like scattered diamonds, can use telescope to see the moon). Day 4: Starry Sky Camp → Jingmai Mountain Sea of Clouds Viewpoint → Lancang County Town - Wake up at 5:30 AM, drive 20 minutes to Sea of Clouds Viewpoint, watch the sea of clouds at 6 AM (tea sea and ancient village floating above clouds, like a city in the sky), at 7 AM drink green tea at the viewpoint (bring your own thermos, fill with hot water, super cozy); - Pack tents at 9 AM, at 10 AM go to Lancang County Town, visit “Lancang Tea Factory Store” (buy ancient tree tea, 200 RMB/jin, cheaper than scenic area), at 12 PM have lunch at “Dai Family Restaurant” in town (lemongrass roasted chicken, 38 RMB per chicken, super tender); - At 2 PM return to Jingmai Mountain, at 4 PM buy handmade tea in Wengji Ancient Village (find tea farmers at “Ancient Village No.1 Courtyard,” tea is very authentic). Day 5: Wengji Ancient Village → Xishuangbanna - Wake up at 9 AM, stroll the village one last time, depart at 10 AM back to Xishuangbanna, arrive at airport at 12:30 PM, end trip. 🌟【Must-visit highlights: These places, missing them is like not coming】 1. Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Core Area - Highlights: thousand-year-old tea trees, old Tea Horse Road, free roasted tea, air full of orchid fragrance, fewer people in the morning, morning mist makes it look like a fairyland; - Pitfall: don’t go in the afternoon! Crowded and sunny, after 1 PM the sun is very strong, easy to get heatstroke. 2. Wengji Bulang Ancient Village - Highlights: century-old Bulang architecture, bougainvillea, sunset viewpoint, grandmas weaving cloth at dusk, very lively; - Must do: buy Bulang handmade tea from tea farmers, don’t buy at the scenic area entrance (the tea there is terrace tea, not authentic). 3. Nuogan Dai Ancient Village - Highlights: Dai bamboo houses, Village Heart Well, handmade paper making, quieter than Wengji, can hear mountain songs in the morning; - Pitfall: don’t casually photograph the Village Heart Well and elders, ask first or you’ll be scolded. 4. Jingmai Mountain Starry Sky Camp - Highlights: Milky Way, telescope, tent accommodation, very quiet at night, only insect sounds and tea fragrance; - Must do: bring earplugs, insect sounds can be noisy and disturb sleep; don’t use flash to photograph stars, it disturbs others. ⚠️【Pitfall guide: These pitfalls I’ve stepped into for you】 1. Don’t buy “ancient tree tea” at the scenic area entrance I saw someone selling “100 RMB/jin ancient tree tea” at Jingmai Mountain Gate, bought some and brewed it, no orchid fragrance at all. Later asked tea farmers and learned it was terrace tea; real ancient tree tea costs at least 200 RMB/jin. Buy from tea farmers inside the village and check their “ancient tree tea certification card.” 2. Don’t trust “cheap one-day tours” Many people at the airport offer “Jingmai Mountain one-day tour for 99 RMB,” don’t believe it! My friend took one last year, they took him to a “fake ancient tea forest” (all newly planted tea trees), forced to buy tea, couldn’t leave without buying, ended up spending 500 RMB on tea to get away. 3. Don’t order expensive dishes at ancient village restaurants The “Tea Forest Restaurant” at Wengji Ancient Village entrance charges 80 RMB for a plate of stir-fried chicken, and it’s not tasty. Later ate at “Yan Zhou’s” in the village, stir-fried chicken was 50 RMB and came with vegetables, super good value. Recommend eating at villagers’ homes, cheaper and authentic. 4. Don’t go to tea forest trails during rainy season June to August is rainy season in Jingmai Mountain, tea forest trails get muddy and slippery. I saw someone fall and their phone dropped in mud, cost 1000 RMB to repair. Dry season is safer. 💡【Final thoughts】 Jingmai Mountain is not “just a place for tea,” it’s a secret place to slow down—in this place, there’s no commercial noise, only tea farmers’ smiles, ancient village life, and starry romance. Don’t come with a “check-in” mindset; bring a relaxed heart, stroll slowly, sip slowly, watch slowly, and you’ll find the beauty here is even more moving than photos. If you have any questions, ask me in the comments, I’ll reply when I see them! Wish you all a great time in Jingmai Mountain~