The Green treasure of the Borderlands: A Journey into the UNESCO Ancient Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain

The World's First Tea Culture Heritage Site

Deep within the misty mountains of Lancang Lahu Autonomous County in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, lies a living museum of tea culture: the Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forests. Situated in Huimin Town, this area covers a core zone of 72 square kilometers at an average altitude of 1,400 meters. In September 2023, it was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming China's 57th World Heritage site and the first one globally dedicated to tea culture. Unlike standard terraced tea plantations, Jingmai Mountain represents a unique "Tea-Forest Symbiosis," where ancient tea trees have grown under the canopy of a primitive forest for over a thousand years. This landscape is a profound testament to the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, preserved by the Blang (Bulang) and Dai people for generations,.

A Millennium of "Tea-Forest Symbiosis"

1.The most distinctive feature of Jingmai: Mountain is its ancient agro-forestry system. The local indigenous people developed a method of cultivating tea that simulates the natural forest structure. This system consists of three vertical layers: the towering arbor trees (like the camphor and Duo Yi trees) form the canopy, providing shade and nutrients; the ancient tea trees occupy the middle layer, absorbing scattered sunlight; and the ground is covered by a diverse herbaceous layer. This biodiversity acts as a natural defense against pests and diseases, allowing the tea to flourish without modern chemicals. Walking through these forests, visitors are surrounded by moss-covered trunks and the fragrance of orchids and tea, witnessing a landscape that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. It is often described as "Tea in the forest, forest in the tea".

Guardians of the Tea: Wengji and Nuogan

Nestled amidst these ancient forests are traditional villages that seem frozen in time. Wengji Ancient Village, inhabited by the Blang people, and Nuogan Ancient Village, home to the Dai people, are the cultural hearts of the mountain. These villages feature well-preserved traditional stilt architecture ("Ganlan" style), with dark wooden houses built into the slopes. The layouts are centered around spiritual landmarks like the Village Heart (Zhaixin) and Buddhist temples. The connection between the villagers and the tea is spiritual; tea is not just a crop but a part of their identity. The Blang people revere their ancestor Pa Aiya, who, according to legend, discovered the tea trees and left them as a sustainable legacy for his descendants, famously saying that gold and livestock would run out, but the tea trees would provide forever.

Spiritual Beliefs and the Sea of Clouds

2.The culture of Jingmai: Mountain is deeply rooted in the worship of the Tea Ancestor. Every tea garden has a "Tea God Tree" (a designated ancient tea tree) that is worshipped and must not be picked. Major festivals, such as the Blang "Tea Ancestor Festival," celebrate this deep bond. Beyond the culture, the natural scenery is breathtaking. The mountain is famous for its spectacular Sea of Clouds, particularly in winter and spring. From the viewing platforms, visitors can see the clouds rolling over the valleys, with island-like mountain peaks and village rooftops poking through the white mist. Whether watching the sunrise over the cloud sea or sipping sun-dried tea by a fire pit in a local home, Jingmai Mountain offers a journey into the true roots of tea culture,.