The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu‘er is an outstanding example of a cultural landscape where the Bulang and Dai peoples, among other ethnic groups, have developed an ingenious “understory tea” cultivation system and sustainable land use practices over a thousand years. It is the world’s first tea-themed World Cultural Heritage site.
Located in Huimin Town, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Pu‘er City, Yunnan Province, the property is defined by the Nanlang River and its tributary, the Nanmen River, which form a relatively independent geographical unit. The designated area covers 19,095.74 hectares, comprising a core zone of 7,167.89 hectares and a buffer zone of 11,927.85 hectares.
📜 A Millennial History: The Legend of the Tea Ancestor
The history of tea cultivation on Jingmai Mountain dates back over a thousand years. According to Bulang legend, their ancestors discovered wild tea trees when they migrated here. The tribe’s leader, Pa Ai Leng, is revered as the “Tea Ancestor.” It is believed that he led his people in the systematic planting and cultivation of tea trees. His dying words, passed down through generations, are sacred: “Leaving you gold and silver will eventually be exhausted; leaving you cattle and horses will eventually die. Only by leaving you the tea gardens and tea trees can our descendants have clothes to wear and food to eat. You must protect the tea trees as you protect your own eyes.”
This deep-seated belief has instilled a profound sense of responsibility and respect for nature among the local people, which remains the most powerful force behind the conservation of the ancient tea forests.
🌿 Unique ‘Understory Tea’ Cultivation: A Masterpiece of Ecological Wisdom
The core of the Jingmai Mountain heritage value lies in its “understory tea” (Linxia Cha) cultivation technique, which is distinct from modern terrace tea plantations that clear large swaths of land. This thousand-year-old technique is a masterpiece of human-nature interaction.
The technique works by moderately thinning the natural subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest, retaining the high-canopy trees to provide the large-leaf varietal tea plants (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) with their preferred environment: diffused light, high humidity, and natural nutrients. The deciduous leaves of the upper trees decompose into natural organic fertilizer, while the forest’s biodiversity naturally controls pests and diseases, eliminating the need for artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
This method creates a unique three-dimensional ecosystem: the top layer consists of tall trees, the middle layer is dominated by ancient tea trees, and the ground layer is covered with herbs and leaf litter. The entire system forms a highly effective cycle, achieving true harmony and symbiosis between man, tea plants, and the forest.
🌿 Biodiversity: A ‘Living Museum’ of Flora and Fauna
The ancient tea forests of Jingmai Mountain are not just tea plantations but also a safe haven for biodiversity. Research by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has identified rich biodiversity, with 14 nationally protected wild plant species, including Ormosia howii, Cycas pectinata, and Alsophila spinulosa, growing in the same area as the tea trees.
The ancient tea forests are home to 125 families, 489 genera, 943 species and varieties of seed plants, 187 species of terrestrial vertebrates, and 134 species of birds. This well-developed biological diversity helps to naturally inhibit pest and disease outbreaks, maintaining the stability of the ecosystem.
🏡 Landscape Composition: The Five Ancient Tea Forests and Nine Villages
The heritage site consists of five large, well-preserved ancient tea forests, nine traditional villages of the Bulang and Dai ethnic groups, and three separate protective forests located between the tea forests.
The nine ancient villages are distributed throughout the area, blending harmoniously with the tea forests. Key examples include Nuogang, Wengji, Mangjing, and Jingmai Dazhai.
The layout of the villages follows the principle of efficient land use, oriented from high to low altitude: on the highest peaks are the “sacred mountains” and water source forests; the traditional villages are located at approximately 1,400 meters, situated above the sea of clouds; the ancient tea forests surround the villages, providing a stable source of income for residents; and the cultivated rice paddies are located in the lower valleys.
🤝 Beyond Conservation: The Living Cultural Heritage and Modern Safeguards
After 13 years of preparation, the site was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on September 17, 2023.
In recent years, to protect the cultural landscape’s outstanding universal value, the local government has established a comprehensive multi-level management system. Specific measures include the “Pu‘er Jingmai Mountain Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape Protection Regulation” and the “Jingmai Mountain Management and Protection Technical Specification” .
The site has also actively adopted advanced technological means for supervision, establishing a digital and intelligent monitoring and early warning platform. The platform integrates real-time monitoring facilities, including 152 high-definition cameras, weather stations, and water quality monitoring equipment, combined with the “Jingmai Mountain Monitoring Cloud” application for use by patrol staff, as well as satellite remote sensing and drone aerial photography technologies, providing a comprehensive early warning and monitoring system for the 191-square-kilometer heritage and buffer zones.
Moreover, Jingmai Mountain has innovatively introduced carbon footprint management. The 2025 Carbon Footprint Report shows that the carbon emissions within the heritage site increased by only 1.24% following the tourist surge after successful inscription. In addition, the carbon dioxide absorption from forestry and land use changes exceeded the total emissions from all sources by 197,900 tons, resulting in a negative carbon footprint of −182,400 tons, demonstrating exceptional carbon sink capacity.
🎒 Traveler’s Guide for an Unforgettable Journey
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Transportation: Jingmai Mountain is located in Lancang County, Pu‘er. Huimin Town is the main gateway town, about 50 kilometers from Lancang Jingmai Airport. The winding mountain roads to the heritage site can be challenging. It is highly recommended to rent a car or hire a local driver for the best experience.
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Key Attractions:
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Dapingzhang Ancient Tea Garden: A representative area of the ancient tea forests, where you can see the large ancient tea trees up close.
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Wengji Bulang Village: Known as a “thousand-year-old Bulang village,” it is the best-preserved Bulang village on the mountain, famous for its traditional stilt houses.
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Nuogang Dai Village: A relatively quiet, less commercialized Dai village, known as the “time-frozen ancient village.” It was also a filming location for the movie Coffee or Tea?
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Bee King Tree: A giant sacred banyan tree over 50 meters tall, venerated by the local people.
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Best Time to Visit: October to May of the following year offers stable dry weather. The winter months (Nov-Feb) present a spectacular sea of clouds. March-May is the spring tea harvest season, when the tea gardens are vibrant and full of life.
💎 Summary
The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain is more than a World Heritage Site; it is a “living heritage” that has been nurtured by the interaction of humans and nature for centuries. Its history and future, rooted in the legend of the “Tea Ancestor,” traditional governance, modern legal frameworks, and a commitment to sustainable tourism, offer a globally significant model for reconciling heritage conservation with social and economic development.
