NEW: from March 9th, 2025

Spring tea tour: Yunnan

Xishuangbanna-Nannuo-Kunming-Yiwu area-Menghai-Laobanzhang-Laoman'e-Hekai

The tour starts at the eve of Spring, when tea leaves, trees and mountains all are waiting for the first rain: the buds will sprout, and new fragrances and aromas will be discovered.

Our journey begins in Xishuangbanna, in south-west Yunnan, and we explore all the most important mountains and tea-forests of Yunnan. We will brew together the best teas, we speak with the producers and assist them in their work as we walk their lands. We will be hosted by skilled pottery masters and professionals, we will attend scholars' workshops on Gongfucha and Yixing and we will live of our passion for tea.

We chose the very beginning of Spring, when the season has just begun and is not yet hectic: usually, at this time of year, only a small quantity of buds has fully sprouted to be harvested, allowing us to travel the mountains and assist with Spring production at a much slower pace, taking enough time to talk with people, learn and experiment with our own hands.

In this travel you will find everything that makes up Eastern Leaves: our Yunnan, an in-depth of Chinese culture, and all the people that makes our tea-journey meaningful.

March 9th - March 22nd, 2025: Spring tea production in Yunnan

Info and reservation

From farmers and tea scholars

In our travels we bring all that we are: our years of technical experience as tea growers and scholars in Yunnan, our long-term relationships with like-minded growers in other Chinese provinces and ceramic artists, and all the our passion.

Attentive organisation

We organize our travels with the same care that we use for our teas and our courses: we consider our activities as a whole, a multidimensional exploration of the leaves we love that needs careful and passionate support to reveal all its beauty.

Independent

We organize our itineraries with our own resources, without relying on any travel agency: we visit the places that shaped our tea journey and that still make us wonder, sitting at the tea table with the tea professionals we esteem the most.

Itinerary

Day #1 - taste of the old Dai kingdom

Xishuangbanna, March 9th

We welcome our guests to our place, in Xishuangbanna valley, for a comfortable rest with tea, seasonal fruit and food to recover from the fatigue of your travel.

We'll stay in a villa next to our studio, that will be your base for the whole duration of our trip in the lands we love so much.

Day #2 - The enchanted mountain

Nannuo forest, March 10th

Nannuo mountain has a thousand year history with tea, and due to its wilder history has an incomparable richness of tea forests: our travel into pu’er starts from here, walking to pay homage to the oldest 800-year-old tree, that is considered the king of Nannuo mountain, and whose location and story are so meaningful for our travel into pu’er tea.

We have a Hani minority lunch on the mountain, and we then continue our tea visiting a 1930’s tea-factory that made history in Menghai area, and we reach the contemporaneity with recent leaves, old and new.

Gallery: Nannuo

Day #3 - The heart of tea trade and production

Menghai, March 11th

Menghai is the center of the most renowned - and busiest - area for the production of pu'er tea: it is surrounded by the Bulang area with Laobanzhang and Laoman'e, Pasha, Nannuo, Naka and many others, and brings together all the best professionals and factories. 

We visit a pu'er tea refining workshop and explore the local economy while dedicating our day to sampling the greatest teas.

In the afternoon, on the way to Xishuangbanna, we stop by our Pu'er shupu master for a specialised tasting, to smooth our way into the night .

Gallery: Menghai

Day #4 - Over the clouds, the capital of Yunnan

On the way to Kunming, March 12th

We go to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, located at 2,100 meters above sea level between the tropical south and the Himalayan north. We go to the freshness of Spring City, the capital of pu'er tea, where twenty-five cultural groups still live and thrive.

We visit the local tea market for professionals, with multiple chances to review and enrich the leaf-based experiences we had during our travel. It is an important place to feel the contemporary tea-scene in Yunnan: here every notable company is represented, with the best of its production.

Photo gallery: Kunming

Day #5 - Tea studies in the heart of Yunnan

Kunming, March 13th

We meet Li Haibo and Li Jiajia, the teacher who teaches gongfucha practise and ceremony: we study technique and movements to brew Chinese teas properly, preparing some leaves from his impressive collections. 

In the afternoon we study the history of incense through the Chinese dynasties, guided by one of the most prominent schools, and we learn how to prepare and fire our own traditional incense.

Photo gallery: Kunming

Day #6 - Tea culture: Yixing clay and Tang cakes

Kunming, March 14th

Our tea practice will become richer and richer, including different spheres of our senses: in the morning we will study the history of the Tang-dynasty tea cakes, and we will learn how to produce our own with special tools, materials, and colours.

After a lunch with private chef, we will join Master top teacher Li Haibo for an in-depth seminar on Yixing clay: he will prepare several teas using different Yixing pieces from his collection, telling about their history and most important shapes.

Photo gallery: Kunming

Day #7 - The tea horse road

Kunming - Xishuangbanna, March 15th

We cross Cuihu Lake towards the old city, where we meet one of the most important figures in the contemporary history of pu'er tea: Mr. Hu, who in 2005 walked with a caravan of 120 horses loaded with pu'er tea from the city of Pu'er in southwest Yunnan to Beijing - about 3000 km to the northeast. We taste the original 2005 teas from the caravan. 

In the afternoon we head south towards the ancient Dai kingdom of Xishuangbanna, where most of the premium pu'er tea is produced and enjoyed.

We have been producing our teas here since 2014 and we will be honored to host you in the land we love so much.

Photo gallery: Kunming

Day #8 - Hike: off the beaten track

Xishuangbanna, March 16th

In the morning we plan a 10 Km walk to explore the height of Nannuo and reach its Bama side, the most prestigious and isolated. Note: for whoever feels uncomfortable with the hike, most of the walk can be supported by SUV or small bus.

We will explore different tea-gardens and forests, cultivars and species, and we will have a picnic on the mountain. It is a unique chance to be immersed into the tea mountain, participating to its daily life and fragrances, step by step. 

Gallery: Nannuo mountain

Day #9 - Treasures of Bulang mtn.

Laoman'e and Laobanzhang, March 17th

In the morning we head to Laoman’e village, the most historical and cultural village of the area, with a lively ancient temple that is the old keeper of the local culture and pu’er tea.

After lunch we visit the most famous village in the area, a symbol of the skyrocketing prices of pu'er tea: Laobanzhang, with its historic trees, evidence of ancient domestication, and the maximum security village that protects its treasure.

Gallery: Laobanzhang and Laoman'e

Day #10 - The rainforest

Jinuo mountain, March 18th

We head to Jinuo mountain, East of the Mekong river: it is one of the most ancient tea mountains, and yet one with the widest variety of flora.

We hike into the thick rainforest through its unique flora, enjoying the pleasant weather that makes this wonderful sub-tropical environment.

We will have our meal with typical Jinuo cultural minority food, surrounded by the forest.

Gallery: Jinuo mountain

Day #11 - The Emperor's favorite

Yiwu, March 19th

We head southeast toward the border with Laos, with the Yiwu peaks as our destination. They are home to a diverse range of tastes, landscapes, and producers.

We visit two different tea villages and forests: Luoshuidong, with its remarkable trees, a sanctuary to its king, and the ancient road; and Mahei, an old Han culture village that determines what Yiwu means and taste.

Gallery: Yiwu

Day #12 - Flowery fragrance and pu’er tea

Yiwu, March 20th

We wake up surrounded by the peaks and scents of Yiwu, and after a proper tea session we walk among the most historically significant homes and lanes, the square where pu'er tea was loaded and traded for generations, and the local museum, which is located at the first stop of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

We then head to one of the farthest villages, according to the weather and road conditions, that may be the prestigious Bohetang or Guafengzhai, surrounded by lush, green valleys.


Gallery: Yiwu

Day #13 - The Dai culture: fabrics and pottery

Yiwu to Xishuangbanna, March 21st

Xishuangbanna is the thousand-years old capital of the Dai kingdom and the Dai minority culture is still lively and spread until nowadays: we visit a local market, immersing in local fruit and products; we delve into the local fabrics, and we visit a Dai village.

We visit a lush tropical garden surrounded by forest, which houses the ceramic workshop of an innovative master we love: Qiu Laoshi and his creations. His work is deeply rooted in his territory: he uses only local sands and plant-based ashes for his glazes, and each of his production-season has a different hue.

Galleries: Qiu Laoshi

Day #14 - A journey of fragrances

Xishuangbanna, March 22nd

It is time to wrap-up all the tastes, teas, people, places and experiences we have encountered through our travel: we meet in the morning in our tea studio to brew together the very best mountains and vintages. 

We prepare some Guanguan tea on the fire to warm up our soul before saying our goodbye.

Our travel is designed by us, and it is independent by any travel agency: we bring you with us on Eastern Leaves routes, guided by a farmer and tea scholar, through places, tastes and people that are most menaningful for us.

From our travelers

I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places

"I am drinking a rock tea from Wuyishan at home, a month after our trip. Brewed in a beautiful Yixing pot that I bought in actual Yixing, and tea from the mountain that I hiked on. I still can't believe I was in all these amazing places... I am reminiscing about this holiday a lot. It was just perfect. People were incredibly nice. We had wonderful encounters with lots of lovely different tea people and the people in our group where the best. Tea people are so nice. We saw incredible things, drank the best teas and had so much fun together. Everything that was abstract for me beforehand, became concrete while traveling. It's hard to capture my feelings in words, but but I am back home for a month now and there was not a single day that I didn't think about the trip. I wasn't homesick while traveling, but I am tripsick now.

And all of this took place under the caring and enthusiastic guidance of Vivian and Lorenzo, truly two of the most kind, warm-hearted and knowledgeable people that I know."

W.E., from The Netherlands

We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty

"I want to consider a different approach. I don't want to make a review of what went well and what didn't go well. I don't want to dwell on individual stages and describe a fantastic world. I reject any image of travel, tea, an extraordinary country and all that. I want to forget any kind of knowledge I have. Tea lovers already know all about these things. I want to tell them that they don't need "yesterday" because it is the necessary condition to savor any moment with its different temperatures, colors and fragrances. Isn't this what happens when you drink forgotten tea? Isn't it like drinking a new tea, after all? When we abandoned the concept of tea bags, what did we do? We entered an ancient forest for the first time. We put our hands in the clay. We tasted food with a sparkling and surprising flavour. We have become more sensitive and have touched beauty. And this is where the world of Eastern Leaves becomes real"

D.N., from Italy

Our travel package includes accommodation in selected, cosy hotels, all the internal transportation, and meals. It doesn't include the flight from/to your country of origin, visas (but we support your application), and insurance.

Once you decide to travel with us, we assist you in everything we can, following our experience with travellers from all over the world.

We apply special rates for our Eastern Academy alumni: contact us to choose a date and customise together your travel at the origin of tea!

Food: Learn through tasting

Along with tea and culture, we place a high value on food: we select the most interesting meals and, above all, to immerse you in our reality of people and places. Whenever possible, we cook in our studio to chill between excursions and to sample foods discovered along the way.
Vegetarian options are plentiful, including numerous variations on tofu, beans, and cooking techniques that are part of the Chinese tradition.

Accommodation

We spend the majority of our nights in a small private villa adjacent to our studio, making it easy to begin each day with tastings and studying.
In every other city, we stay in trusted hotels on which we have come to rely over the years, and in some cases, they have become second homes to us due to their excellent service and tea with a view.

Transportation

We travel through the East Coast cities by rapid train (and yes, tea on the train is a must-have feature in our tours!) and then by private car to each destination; we fly to Yunnan and then drive our own private SUV to ensure the highest level of safety, comfort, and flexibility.

Contact us

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Further travel options

Winter Tour

December 23rd - January 5th

This new itinerary explores the diversity of our beloved Yunnan in tea, geography, and culture: we cross its high-mountain geography from north to south, through its two most important kingdoms of Nanzhao (Tang dynasty, 618-907) and Dai (Song dynasty, 960-1279), indulging in the best leaves that the locals who inhabited these lands refined over centuries.

In the winter, it is possible to travel over the majority of the tea roads and trails, and all of the new teas in both maocha and pressed bricks are waiting to be brewed.

Temperatures in the Xishuangbanna valley are expected to range between 18°C and 25°C, while Kunming and Dali, where we will be attending the majority of the professional seminars, will be between 5°C and 16°C.

Itinerary and booking

China Tea Tour - May

May 1st - May 20th, 2025

This tour crosses the historical tea line of the east coast, before immersing in our Yunnan: it starts from Yixing, before proceeding to Huangshan and Qimen valley, where we visit extensively the most important production areas.

From there we travel to the Wuyishan valley, where we visit extensively the most important production areas, and from where we start to Tongmuguan, the birth-place of red tea, and Jianyang, the ancient site of production for the Jianzhang teaware, Tenmoku in Japanese.

For the second part of the tour we fly to our Yunnan, where we'll immerse in pu'er lands of Xishuangbanna, following the traces of pu'er tea from the ancient days until the contemporaneity.

Itinerary and booking

Summer Tour

August 2025

For this summer we have many ideas and inspirations; we will explore the mountains, we will hike and meditate, together with people we love.

It will be a new itinerary among teas and cultures, immersed in the Chinese west, where boundaries means few in front of culture, geography, and flavors.

We plan to publish the complete itinerary during Spring 2025; in the meanwhile fell free to write us to express your preferences: we will be happy to hear from you, and plan together our trip.

Pre-booking and suggestions

Find us

Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China

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