[2025 Pu'er Airport] Travel Guide for Pu'er Simao Airport (Updated Aug)

Just finished a 6-day, 5-night deep tour of Pu'er, this small city in southern Yunnan completely overturned my perception of Yunnan! A constant 25°C air conditioning mode, lush green rainforests, thousand-year-old tea mountains, ethnic ancient villages, and best of all, few tourists and low prices~ Sharing my detailed guide, highly recommend saving it and reading slowly! 🚗 【Transportation Pitfall Guide】 ✅ By plane: Fly directly to "Pu'er Simao Airport"! Only 20 minutes from downtown, airport shuttle bus costs 10 yuan (don’t take illegal taxis!) ✅ By high-speed rail: Kunming → Pu'er Station (2.5 hours, 💰150 yuan), then take a bus directly to downtown ✅ By car: From Kunming take Kunmo Expressway (5 hours), stop by "Yuxi Fuxian Lake" for copper pot fish, plenty of electric car charging stations along the way ⚠️ Hard-earned lesson: Pu'er attractions are scattered! Renting a car with a driver is the most hassle-free (💰400 yuan/day), recommend "Driver Zhang" (local experienced driver familiar with routes + knows hidden photo spots) 🌳 【6 Days 5 Nights Immersive Itinerary】 Day 1: First Tea City Experience 📍 15:00 Pu'er Old Street: Bluestone pavement + century-old arcade buildings, drink "Old Brand Bean Soup Rice Cake" at Daijia Alley! Peanut soup base with soft glutinous rice cake, sprinkled with chili oil that’s so fragrant you’ll stomp your feet 📍 18:30 Tea Horse Ancient Town: Free entry! Watch the 19:30 live show "The Caravan Through Time," water curtain and light effects are stunning, browse the night market for handmade tie-dye (bargain down to 30 yuan) Day 2: Rainforest Trek + Coffee Adventure 🌿 8:00 Taiyanghe Forest Park: Head straight to the Red Panda Manor! Feed apples for 10 yuan, watch the furry cubs cling and act cute~ Hike the cycad trail, encounter white rhinos bathing (wear non-slip shoes! The boardwalk is slippery) ☕ 14:00 Xiaoaozi Coffee Manor: Roast Yunnan small bean coffee by hand! Cold brew paired with "coffee fruit peel braised pork," sweet and sour to cut the grease, camp overnight in a tent to watch fireflies and the Milky Way (book in advance! August is peak season) Day 3: Jingmai Mountain Tea Spirit Blast 🍃 9:00 Thousand-Year-Old Tea Garden: Pick autumn tea with a Bulang ethnic sister! Ancient trees provide shade, no sunburn, experience hand-frying and rolling tea leaves, take home your own handmade tea cake (💰200 yuan including packaging, engraving your name is very ceremonial) 🏡 15:00 Wengji Ancient Village: Shoot photos in Dai costumes at stilted wooden houses (rent clothes for 50 yuan), drink earthen pot roasted tea under the golden pagoda of the Buddhist temple, bitter then sweet aftertaste 🌌 Overnight at "Jingmai Anmingju": Open the window to see rolling sea of clouds, get up at 4 a.m. to catch the sunrise breaking through clouds, breathtakingly beautiful! Day 4: Border Secret Trek 🛶 9:00 Nakeli Tea Horse Ancient Road: Retrace thousand-year-old horse hoof prints! Make caravan dishes yourself "bamboo tube cured meat rice," firewood aroma seeps into sticky rice, makes the kids next door drool 🌶️ 15:00 Menglian Nayun Ancient Town: China’s last Dai ethnic ancient town! Hunt the night market for "sour and spicy sapie rice noodles," lemongrass + lemon juice sour and spicy kick, paired with Lao beer is super refreshing Day 5: Wild Fun Finale 🐘 8:00 Pu'er National Park: Hike the primeval rainforest, listen to gibbon calls! Hidden activity: book "night insect watching" (guide shines flashlight on stick insects, they look like aliens) 🍄 18:00 Mushroom Feast Grand Finale: Rush to "Xinyuan Restaurant" for wild mushroom hotpot! Chicken fungus + boletus + fresh green platter, cook into golden rich broth, so fresh it’s soul-stirring (staff watch the pot closely, safety first) Day 6: Slow Life Wrap-up ☕ 10:00 Daijia Alley Café: "Buku Tea House" renovated from a century-old house, try "Pu'er tea crisp" + cold brew tea, read and daydream until you don’t want to leave... 🍜 【Food Hits and Misses · Local Certified】 ✅ Must-try list: Sour Bamboo Shoot Fish: Night market "Axian Sour Shop" kills live fish on the spot, sour bamboo shoot fermentation aroma hits your head, soup with rice eaten three bowls straight! Chicken Shredded Rice: Bulang village exclusive! Shredded chicken + glutinous rice + fragrant willow, sticky and fresh enough to lick the bowl Insect Feast Blind Box: Lancang night market challenge fried bamboo worms and bee pupae, high protein crispy snack with beer, a must-try for brave souls ⚠️ Avoid: Scenic spot "Pu'er Tea Ice Cream" has heavy artificial flavor! Recommend "Dakaihe Manor" hand-poured coffee smoothie instead 🛖 【Accommodation Hard Lessons】 ▪️ Convenient downtown: Stay in Simao District at "Pu'er Huajiantang"! Pool + tea room, 5-minute walk to night market ▪️ Rainforest nature lovers: "Red Panda Manor" forest cabin, listen to insects at night and breathe fresh air in the morning, best for families ▪️ Tea mountain sentiment: Jingmai Mountain "Lalong Yun She" panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, sea of clouds at your fingertips (but high altitude may cause insomnia) ❌ Avoid: Don’t book homestays inside Tea Horse Ancient Town! Bars at night are so noisy you’ll question your life 💡 【Local Insider Tips】 Off-peak magic: Tea Horse Ancient Town before 8 a.m. Own the empty alleys! Shoot morning mist and cooking smoke like ink paintings Taiyanghe Park after 1 p.m. Reverse tour! Group tourists have left, enjoy cuddling with red pandas alone Style tricks: Bright long dress + straw hat for tea mountain photos, green background makes skin look fairer Bring cooling sun-protective clothing! UV is so strong you can get a V-neck sunburn in 3 hours Hidden perks: Buy fruit at night market from Dai ethnic grandma’s stall! Mangoes piled high, 5 yuan per jin freshly cut Free museum experience pressing Pu'er tea (Tuesday/Thursday afternoons, limited to 10 people) Cost reference: Tickets (about 300) + accommodation (1500) + food and drinks (800) + car rental (1200) = 💰3800 yuan/person for a luxurious experience! Healing moment: At dusk in Wengji Ancient Village, I met a Bulang grandma fanning roasted tea. She handed me a piece of brown sugar glutinous rice cake, her wrinkles smiling: "Drink slowly, tea tastes good even when cold." Suddenly I understood Pu'er’s magic—immersed in tea fragrance, we are all home. Days in Pu'er are mornings picking tea in dew, nights lit by fireflies in tents, spicy and sour rice noodles that bring tears but you can’t stop slurping... This kind of slow life is the ultimate weapon against burnout! This guide is for reference only.

Friends~ Are you scared off by the price hikes in Sanya/Dali during summer vacation? Don’t worry! This thrifty travel blogger has dug up 4 "off-season treasure spots" where you can enjoy fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, and save money in August-September. Spend just over 200 yuan per day and have a blast—working people can easily achieve the freedom of a "paid vacation"! [RoundNails] Quanzhou, Fujian | 2000 yuan for 5 days, eat your fill in the ancient city without guilt Why go off-season? [Bowknot] Avoid the crowds of May Day/Golden Week, fewer typhoons in August-September, and the 28°C sea breeze is even more comfortable than air conditioning. The key is accommodation is half the price of peak season! - [HighSpeedRail] Transportation: High-speed train directly to Quanzhou Station, use buses/shared bikes in the city, and rent a small electric scooter for 10 yuan to explore the ancient city all afternoon. - Itinerary & Highlights: 1. Day 1: Stroll and eat on West Street, visit Kaiyuan Temple in the morning to see the thousand-year-old mulberry tree, climb East and West Towers in the afternoon for panoramic views of the ancient city, and catch the "Bell Tower Sunset" on West Street in the evening—every snapshot looks vintage and cinematic. 2. Day 2: Become a "flower girl" in Xunpu Village, rent a costume and headpiece for 20 yuan, take photos by fishing boats on the beach—10 times more cost-effective than a photo shoot! Don’t miss the "Grandma’s Spring Rolls" at the village entrance, 5 yuan packed with filling. 3. Day 3: Visit Chongwu Ancient City by the sea, tickets only 40 yuan. Walk on the Ming Dynasty city walls and enjoy the sea breeze. In the evening, go to Crescent Bay to walk on the beach—so few people you can have the whole sea to yourself. - Accommodation & Food [House]: Stay near West Street in a guesthouse, 150-200 yuan per night for a room with a small balcony; must-try foods: Mianxian porridge (with vinegar meat and large intestine for only 8 yuan), ginger duck (half a duck for 50 yuan enough for two), and Tusu jelly (don’t be afraid! It’s chewy like jelly). - Budget [Purse]: About 2000 yuan for 5 days and 4 nights (including transport, accommodation, and food). - Tips [Pushpin]: Rent costumes from the aunt’s stall at Xunpu Village entrance, avoid "internet-famous" shops; apply sunscreen well, UV rays by the sea are very strong! [RoundNails] Linxia, Gansu | The overlooked "Little Lanzhou" with great value Why go off-season [Bowknot]: Fewer people than Lanzhou, cheaper than Dunhuang, average temperature 25°C in August-September, enjoy food and sightseeing without suffering, and avoid high-priced flights during Northwest China’s peak season! - Transportation [HighSpeedRail]: Fly to Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, then take a 1-hour high-speed train to Linxia. Taxi starting fare is 6 yuan, convenient to get around. - Itinerary & Highlights [Bowknot]: 1. Day 1: Explore the ancient city at Bafang Shisan Alley, with blue-green brick carvings perfect for photos, free entry! In the afternoon, have tea at Hongyuan, 10 yuan for a cup of "Sanpao Tai," relaxing in the sun. 2. Day 2: Visit Liujiaxia Reservoir and Bingling Temple Grottoes, join a local day tour for only 150 yuan, take a boat to see the "plateau lake," fewer crowds than Mogao Caves, and get close to the Buddha statues. - Accommodation & Food [House]: Stay near Bafang Shisan Alley in a hotel, 180 yuan per night for a four-star standard; must-eat "Hezhou hand-pulled lamb," 50 yuan per jin, freshly cooked and sliced, delicious with garlic! Also try sweet fermented milk tea, 10 yuan a cup, better than some popular brands. - Budget [Purse]: About 1500 yuan for 3 days and 2 nights (including Lanzhou-Linxia transport). - Tips [Pushpin]: Northwest dishes are large portions, one dish and one soup for two people is enough; wear long sleeves at Liujiaxia, it’s windy on the boat. [RoundNails] Pu’er, Yunnan | Avoid Dali and Lijiang, hide in a "natural oxygen bar" Why go off-season [Bowknot]: August-September is Pu’er’s rainy season, but showers come and go quickly, the air is super fresh, room prices are 30% cheaper than Dali, and you can experience "tea picking freedom"! - Transportation [HighSpeedRail]: Fly to Pu’er Simao Airport, taxi starting fare 8 yuan, carpool to tea mountains recommended (about 20 yuan per person). - Itinerary & Highlights [Bowknot]: 1. Day 1: Explore and eat at Chama Ancient Town, free entry! In the afternoon, visit the China Pu’er Tea Expo Garden, 50 yuan ticket includes tea picking and making, and you can take home the tea you make. 2. Day 2: Visit Sun River Forest Park (aka "Little Panda Manor"), 60 yuan entrance, get close to feeding red pandas (bring apple slices, pandas are very friendly), walk the "jungle plank road" like wandering in a primeval forest. - Accommodation & Food [House]: Stay near Chama Ancient Town in a guesthouse, 160 yuan per night for a room with a small courtyard; must-eat "Pu’er barbecue," grilled chicken feet and wrapped enoki mushrooms, about 30 yuan per person to eat until full; also try "sour soup chicken," incredibly fresh! - Budget [Purse]: About 1800 yuan for 4 days and 3 nights. - Tips [Pushpin]: Bring a folding umbrella for the rainy season; wear light-colored clothes for tea picking, better for photos; red pandas are cute but don’t pull their tails! [RoundNails] Weihai, Shandong | Fewer people than Qingdao, seafood so cheap you can enjoy "scallop freedom" Why go off-season [Bowknot]: Qingdao Beer Festival is crowded in July, but Weihai has fewer tourists in August-September, seafood season just started, you can buy a jin of scallops for 10 yuan, and sea view rooms cost only 200 yuan per night! - Transportation [HighSpeedRail]: High-speed train directly to Weihai Station, take the "Coastal Loop Bus" for 1 yuan, ride from Weihai Station to the International Seaside Bathing Beach, enjoy the sea views all the way. - Itinerary & Highlights: 1. Day 1: Walk on the International Seaside Bathing Beach, free! Rent a bike in the afternoon (20 yuan/hour) for a coastal ride, pass "Torch 8th Street" and take photos like "Little Kamakura." 2. Day 2: Day trip to Liugong Island, tickets plus boat fare 130 yuan, visit the First Sino-Japanese War Museum, and see spotted deer (free feeding spots on the island). 3. Day 3: Explore Hanlefong for food, watch the sunset at Weihai Port in the evening, enjoy seafood at street stalls, about 50 yuan per person to eat until full. - Accommodation & Food [House]: Stay near the International Seaside Bathing Beach in a guesthouse, 200 yuan per night for a sea view room; buy seafood at "Emperor Palace Market," have restaurants cook it (processing fee 10-20 yuan), scallops, oysters, and razor clams, 100 yuan for three people is enough. - Budget [Purse]: About 2200 yuan for 5 days and 4 nights. - Tips [Pushpin]: Be careful cycling along the coast, some sections have no bike lanes; don’t buy too much seafood, eat it fresh on the spot! 💡Final thoughts: Reverse travel is not "settling," it’s doing big things with little money! Don’t blindly follow the crowd to popular spots in August-September and be a "big spender." These 4 places are tested to be fun and budget-friendly. Students can save pocket money, workers can take annual leave and go. Save this guide and set off!

Below is a comprehensive Pu'er travel guide based on the latest information, covering attractions, food, itineraries, and practical tips to help you deeply experience the charm of the "World Tea Origin": ------ 🌿 1. Recommended Must-Visit Attractions Natural and Cultural Heritage 1. Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest (Free, some village parking fees 10-20 RMB) ◦ The world's first tea-themed cultural heritage site, 28,000 mu of millennium-old tea trees, shrouded in mist like a fairyland. Key spots to check in: ▪ Nuogan Ancient Village (traditional Dai ethnic village, filming location of "A Little Home") ▪ Wengji Ancient Village (Bulang ethnic ancient village, with ancient temples, tea houses, and coffee shops) ▪ Bee God Tree (Mangjing Shang Village, over 70 honeycombs hanging like amber) ◦ Experiences: tea picking and making (about 100 RMB/person), fire pit tea roasting, stargazing at night. 2. Pu'er Sun River Forest Park (100 RMB for adults, free for children/70+ seniors) ◦ An oasis on the Tropic of Cancer, with 97.45% forest coverage, where you can feed red pandas up close and occasionally spot wild rhinos. ◦ Activities: hike the 6.9 km lake loop trail, explore the tropical rainforest ecosystem. 3. Nakeli Tea Horse Post Station (Free) ◦ A living fossil of the Tea Horse Road, preserving saddle stone bridges and century-old shops, with experiences like rare wood carving, fabric dyeing, and handmade tea making. 4. Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Landmark Park (40 RMB for adults) ◦ A must-visit for geography enthusiasts! Witness the "shadowless pole" phenomenon on the summer solstice, explore the Twin Wells and Hani ethnic solar worship. Hidden Gems • Mengsuo Longtan (Ximeng Wa Autonomous County): plateau lake + primeval forest, Wa ethnic sacred site "Longmoye" with over 3,000 cattle head sacrificial formations hanging. • Menglian Xuanfu Office (ticket not listed): Dai ethnic Tusi government office, 700 years old, blending Dai and Han architectural essence. • China Pu'er Tea Expo Garden (30 RMB for adults): experience tea picking (50 RMB/basket) and savor Pu'er aged tea in a vast tea garden. ------ 🍜 2. Pu'er on the Tip of Your Tongue: Must-Try Food Map Signature Dishes 1. Chicken Tofu: made from chicken and egg whites, resembling tofu, smooth and delicious. 2. Ham Papaya Chicken: sour papaya + black-bone chicken, sour and spicy appetizing, a Dai classic. 3. Wa Ethnic Chicken Porridge Rice: chicken and rice slow-cooked until mushy, wild flavor. 4. Crab Leg Stewed Chicken: dishes with parasitic plants from ancient tea trees, medicinal fragrance with a slight bitterness (Jingmai Mountain exclusive). Street Snacks & Late-Night Eats • Axian Sour Chicken Feet (Yueguang Road, Simao District): sour, spicy, and crispy, served with mango mixed with Litsea cubeba, about 30 RMB per person. • Manxieba Grilled Fish (by Lancang River): live fish charcoal-grilled with pickled vegetable paste dipping sauce, top choice for late-night snack. • Mohei Barbecue (weekend market): charcoal-grilled small yellow cattle jerky (3 RMB/piece), Pu'er tea sausage (75 RMB/kg). • Avocado Feast (Menglian County): the largest avocado producing area in China, innovative dishes like avocado stewed chicken. ------ 📅 3. Suggested Itinerary Planning Classic 3-Day Tour • D1 Tea Culture Immersion: China Pu'er Tea Expo Garden (tea picking and making) → Nakeli Post Station (caravan lunch) → Tea Horse Ancient City Night Market. • D2 Nature and Wild Fun: Sun River Forest Park (feed rhinos) → Xiaoaozi Coffee Estate (hand drip experience) → Meizi Lake Park sunset. • D3 Heritage Exploration: Jingmai Mountain (Nuogan + Wengji Ancient Villages) → purchase tea souvenirs before departure. In-Depth 5-Day Tour • D4 Ethnic Customs: Ximeng Mengsuo Longtan (Wa ethnic sacrificial site) → Menglian Xuanfu Office (Dai culture). • D5 Geographic Wonders: Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Landmark Park → Twin Culture Park (explore the Twin Wells). ------ 🛏️ 4. Accommodation and Transportation Guide Recommended Accommodation • Convenient in the city: Hanting (Tea Horse Ancient City branch), near the night market, budget-friendly first choice. • Tea Mountain Homestay: Jingmai Mountain · Fangwu Outside (inside Wengji Ancient Village, window views of sea of clouds). • Hot Spring Wellness: Jinggu Mangka Xikang Yun She (forest hot spring + Dai-style SPA). Transportation Tips • Major transport: direct flights to Pu'er Simao Airport; high-speed train Kunming → Pu'er in 3 hours. • Local travel: charter car tours to Jingmai Mountain/Sun River (about 300 RMB/day); city taxis start at 8 RMB. ------ ⚠️ 5. Pitfall Avoidance and Precautions 1. Anti-Scam Guide: ◦ Ask prices before horseback riding or tea tasting in scenic spots to avoid hidden charges. ◦ When buying tea, look for the SC mark; recommended official channels are "Pu'er Tea Expo Garden" or "Bailian Tea Estate." 2. Travel Essentials: ◦ Bring waterproof shoes and a folding umbrella during the rainy season (June-August); strong UV on the plateau, prepare SPF50+ sunscreen. ◦ Respect ethnic minority customs: do not touch Wa ethnic cattle skulls, no shorts or hats inside temples. ------ 💎 Summary Pu'er is a slow-life paradise of "coffee in the left hand, tea in the right"—pick fresh leaves in the Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest in the morning, have Wa ethnic hand-grabbed rice with sour mango for lunch, taste Yunnan small-grain coffee at Xiaoaozi Estate in the afternoon, hunt for rare wood carvings at Tea Horse Ancient City in the evening, and soothe your soul with charcoal-grilled fish late at night. Avoid commercial traps, delve into villages and nature, and you will understand what "a lifestyle called Yunnan" truly means. Real-time events: On weekends in July, visit the "Fragrant Encounter Pu'er" market (Pu'er Cultural Center) to enjoy Mohei barbecue and watch intangible cultural heritage sugar painting.