Yunnan's hidden treasure route | Lancang-Menglian-Pu'er travel guide
| Lancang-Menglian-Pu'er Travel Guide.
Want to avoid the crowds and deeply experience the fireworks and poetry of Yunnan? Don't miss this Lancang-Menglian-Pu'er niche route! Visit the market, taste the folk customs, explore nature, and immerse yourself in the comfort of southern Yunnan~
I. Itinerary planning (3-4 days slow tour)
3-day compact version
Day1: Arrive in Lancang → Visit Lancang market (feel the fireworks) → Check in Lao Dabao Village (music + Lahu culture)
Day2: Lancang → Menglian (about 1.5 hours by car) → Visit Menglian Xuanfu Office → Visit Nayun Ancient Town → Eat Menglian Dai cuisine
Day3: Menglian → Pu'er (about 2 hours by car) → Explore Pu'er National Forest Park → Taste Pu'er coffee → Return
4-day leisure version
Day1: Landing in Lancang → Strolling in Lancang Old Street → Tasting local snacks (Niusa Pi, Lancang roasted chicken)
Day2: In-depth tour of Lao Dabao Village (watch Lahu performances, learn to pound baba) → Visit Lancang Night Market in the evening
Day3: One-day tour in Menglian (Xuanfusi Office + Nayun Ancient Town + Menglian Shwedagon Pagoda) → Stay in Menglian to experience Dai style
Day4: Breathe in Pu'er Forest (National Forest Park + Coffee Manor) → Return
II. Treasure Points
1. Lancang: Fireworks and ethnic style blend
• Lancang Market:
🌿Must-visit: Go to the "Lancang Comprehensive Market" in the early morning to see the old lady weaving colorful ropes and selling wild dried goods (mushrooms, dried fruits, medicinal materials). The fruit stalls are full of mangoes and dragon fruits, and the tropical atmosphere is full!
🍜Must-eat: Have a bowl of "Niu Sa Pi" (Dai flavor, bitter intestine soup with rice noodles). If you dare to try new things, try roasted yellow eel and pounded chicken feet, which are sour and spicy.
📸Photo: Capture the craftsmen in the market (the old lady weaving ropes and baking baba), full of humanistic sense.
• Lao Dabao Village:
🎵Must experience: The birthplace of "Happy Lahu", watch the villagers play guitar, sing Lahu folk songs, learn to dance "waving dance", and immerse yourself in the charm of ethnic music.
🍙Must eat: Chongbaba (glutinous rice pounded into mud, wrapped with peanuts and brown sugar), sweet and soft; Lahu barbecue (meat marinated with lemongrass, grilled on charcoal fire), the meat is fragrant.
🏡Must visit: visit the traditional Lahu houses, see hand-woven cloth and bamboo weaving, and buy a Lahu totem pendant as a souvenir.
2. Menglian: A small town with ancient Dai style
• Menglian Xuanfusi Office:
🏛️Must see: The most complete Dai Tusi Yamen in Yunnan, with red walls and black tiles, carved doors and windows, visit the "meeting room" and "bedroom", learn about the history of Dai Tusi, as if traveling back to ancient times.
📖Little knowledge: This is the filming location of "Border Village Fire" and "Peacock Princess". The architecture combines Dai and Han styles, and the photo taking atmosphere is super.
• Nayun Ancient Town:
👘Must visit: The last Dai ancient town in China, walk on the bluestone road, see the "three streets and two lanes" (main street, cross street, Xiazhai Street), the traditional Dai architecture "one seal" style houses are scattered, and occasionally encounter Dai grandmas selling bananas and tamarind.
🌺Must punch in: Menglian Shwedagon Pagoda (Dai-style pagoda, golden top shining), watch the sunset shining on the pagoda in the evening, sacred and beautiful.
🍛Must eat: Dai-style hand-held rice (purple rice, grilled fish, grilled chicken, moss), 50 yuan per person, taste the essence of Dai flavor at one time.
3. Pu'er: Forest and coffee aroma
• Pu'er National Forest Park:
🌳Must-visit: Hike to "Rhinoceros Terrace" to see red pandas, gibbons, and tree trees. Walk through the rainforest plank road, and the negative oxygen ions are overflowing, just like walking into the world of "Avatar".
📸Production: "Tea Altar" (giant teapot sculpture), "Tree House" (observation deck hidden in the rainforest), forest blockbusters are easy to capture.
• Pu'er Coffee Manor:
☕Must-experience: Choose "Xiaoaozi Coffee Manor" or "Manya Coffee Manor", from coffee bean picking, roasting to hand brewing, participate in the whole process, drink the coffee you make, bitter with fruit acid, super fragrant!
🍰Must-eat: Coffee pudding (coffee aroma + smooth taste), coffee ice cream (rich and not greasy), coffee lovers are ecstatic.
3. Transportation & Accommodation & Avoiding Pitfalls
1. Transportation
• Between cities: Lancang → Menglian (self-driving/chartering, about 1.5 hours, see the countryside of southern Yunnan along the way); Menglian → Pu'er (self-driving/shuttle bus, about 2 hours, smooth high-speed).
• In the city: take a taxi/ride a shared electric bike (Pu'er and Lancang are small, riding a bike is more comfortable); walk around Menglian Ancient Town and feel the slow pace.
2. Accommodation
• Lancang: Stay at "Lao Dabao B&B" (Lahu characteristics, wooden building, fire pit, listen to insects at night); or Lancang County Hotel (recommend "Lancang Bangwei Hotel", high cost performance, close to the market).
• Menglian: Choose "Nayun Ancient Town Inn" (Dai-style bamboo house, built by the river, listen to the life of the Dai people in the morning); if you have a high budget, you can choose "Menglian Kaidi Hotel" (new facilities, close to the Xuanfu Office).
• Pu'er: Stay at "Pu'er Kaiyuan Meizihu Hot Spring Hotel" (lake view room + hot spring, forest resort feeling); or "Pu'er Man Boutique Hotel" in the city (strong design, close to coffee street).
3. Tips to avoid pitfalls
• Market shopping: Buy dry goods (such as dried basil and mushrooms) at Lancang Market. Don't buy too many New Year goods, which are not easy to carry; ask the price clearly, some stall owners use kilograms to avoid misunderstandings.
• Ethnic customs: Lao Dabao Village respects the customs of the Lahu people, and ask for consent before taking photos; don't wear revealing clothes when visiting the Menglian Dai Temple, and take off your shoes to enter.
• Coffee experience: The price of hand-brewed coffee in the manor is not low (50-100 yuan per person), try it first before deciding to buy beans to avoid stepping on thunder.
• Weather clothing: Southern Yunnan is rainy, bring a folding umbrella/raincoat; hot during the day (wear short sleeves, long skirt), cool in the morning and evening (prepare a thin jacket), wear non-slip shoes for rainforest hiking.
This Lancang-Menglian-Pu'er route hides the most authentic fireworks and nature of Yunnan! Visit the market, taste the folk customs, explore the rainforest, and enjoy the relaxing and healing journey. Save it and go to unlock the small wonders of southern Yunnan~ (Note: The business hours of some markets and manors are adjusted according to the season. It is more reliable to confirm by phone before traveling)