The Millennial Echoes of Tea and Faith: Exploring Wengji Ancient Village on Jingmai Mountain

A Secret Realm Suspended in the Clouds

Hidden deep within the rolling tea mountains of Lancang Lahu Autonomous County in Pu'er City, Wengji Ancient Village (Wengji Guzhai) stands as a timeless sanctuary of the Blang (Bulang) people. Perched at an altitude of 1,500 meters on Jingmai Mountain, this ancient settlement is often shrouded in mist and clouds, earning it the reputation of a "secret realm" suspended in the sky. As one of the core villages of the "Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain," which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, Wengji has preserved its primitive architectural style, deep-rooted tea culture, and spiritual traditions for over a millennium. Unlike many commercialized tourist towns, Wengji retains a profound silence and authenticity, where the air is filled with the fragrance of tea and the sound of temple bells echoes through the valley. It is a living museum of the Blang people's history, offering a glimpse into a lifestyle that has harmoniously coexisted with nature for centuries,.

The Architectural Heritage of the Blang

1.The visual charm of: Wengji lies in its incredibly well-preserved traditional architecture. The village consists of rows of "Ganlan" style wooden stilt houses, built entirely from local timber and dark grey tiles. These structures are densely packed along the mountain slopes, creating a layered and organic landscape that blends seamlessly with the surrounding ancient tea forests. The roofs are adorned with unique totem decorations, symbolizing the Blang people's reverence for nature and their ancestors. Walking through the narrow, stone-paved alleys, visitors can see the open-air balconies where locals dry tea leaves and crops, witnessing a way of life that has remained largely unchanged. The village layout centers around the "Zhaixin" (Village Heart), a spiritual pillar representing the soul and unity of the community, marking the spot where the village was first established.

Guardians of the Ancient Tea Forests

Wengji is inextricably linked to the history of Pu'er tea. According to Blang legend, their ancestor Pa Aiya led the tribe to this fertile land and discovered the wild tea trees. On his deathbed, he told his people that gold and livestock would be used up, but the tea trees would provide for their descendants forever. Today, the village is surrounded by vast ancient tea gardens, where century-old tea trees grow under the canopy of towering primal forests. This unique "Forest-Tea Coexistence" ecosystem produces high-quality organic tea and reflects the ecological wisdom of the Blang people. Visitors can walk into these ancient forests, touch the moss-covered trunks of tea trees that are hundreds of years old, and understand why this land is considered a holy site for tea lovers worldwide,.

A Sanctuary of Faith: Wengji Temple

At the highest point of the village stands the Wengji Temple, a Theravada Buddhist temple that serves as the spiritual heart of the community. With its golden spires and intricate carvings, the temple contrasts beautifully with the rustic wooden houses below. It is a place of tranquility where villagers come to pray and hold ceremonies. Next to the temple stands an ancient Cypress tree, said to be thousands of years old, which is revered as a sacred tree. The juxtaposition of the Buddhist temple, the ancient tree, and the sea of clouds creates a mesmerizing atmosphere of peace and divinity, making it a perfect spot for meditation and photography,.