Pu'er

Pǔ'ěr (普洱), previously known as Sīmáo (思茅), is a prefecture-level city in Southern Yunnan. It has been a center for trade, mainly with Myanmar, for centuries. It is perhaps best known for its eponymous tea. In 2024, it had a population of 2.34 million people.

Understand

Pu'er is the source of the name Pu'er tea. Pu'er is in the south of Yunnan Province, next to Laos and Myanmar. It has unique natural conditions suitable for tea tree growth, so it has become one of the birthplaces and main production areas of Pu'er tea.

History

Its name was changed to Simao in 1950 following the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, while its surrounding county was known as Pu'er. In 2007, the town's name was changed back to Pu'er; the surrounding area became known as Ning'er County; and the name Simao was taken by a town and district within the city. The change had an effect on the size of the official Pu'er tea production area, a major regional product.

Pu'er
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       16     15 2       16     17 4       20     21 6       24     24 10       97     24 14       181     24 17       202     24 17       204     24 16       119     23 15       79     21 12       42     18 7       11     15 3 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source:w:pu‘er#Climate
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.6     60 36       0.6     63 38       0.8     69 44       0.9     75 50       3.8     76 58       7.1     75 62       8     75 62       8     75 61       4.7     73 58       3.1     69 53       1.7     64 45       0.4     59 38 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Geography and climate

Pu'er is located in southern/southwestern Yunnan, on the lower reaches of the Mekong (known in Chinese as the Lancang), with the bordering prefectures being Yuxi to the northeast, Honghe to the east, Xishuangbanna to the south, Lincang to the northwest, and Dali and Chuxiong. It also shares borders with Vietnam (Điện Biên Province), Laos (Phongsaly Province), and Burma (Shan State), being the only prefecture in Yunnan to border all three countries. As with much of the province, mountainous terrain dominates its administrative area, covering 98.3%. Elevations range from 376 to 3,306 metres (1,234 to 10,846 ft).

Located at an altitude of above 1,300 m (4,300 ft) and within a degree south of the Tropic of Cancer, Pu'er, as with much of southern Yunnan, has a warm humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with muddled distinction between the seasons and daytime temperatures remaining warm year-round. Highs peak in April and May before the core of the rainy season and reach a minimum in December; however, the warmest and coolest months are June and January, respectively at 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) and 13.7 °C (56.7 °F); the annual mean is 19.3 °C (66.7 °F). June through September accounts for nearly 70% of the annual rainfall of 1,442 mm (56.8 in) and during this time, some rainfall occurs on most days, pushing relative humidity above 80% and there is a marked reduction in sunshine. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 27% in July to 69% in February, the city receives 2,206 hours of bright sunshine annually.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Pu'er Simao Airport (普洱思茅机场), 123 Siting Road, Simao District (思茅区思亭路123号) (there is no dedicated airport city bus, but the airport is close to the city center so a taxi ride to your hotel should be relatively cheap), ☏ +86 879 2153017. A small airport with only a few flights per week. As of October 2022, flights are only available from Changsha, Chengdu. Kunming and Mangshi. (updated Oct 2022)

By train

• 2 Pu'er Railway Station (普洱站), Kunming-Mohan Expressway, Simao District (思茅区昆磨高速) (bus nos. 3 and K1 are the main buses connecting the station to the city; there are also special tourist buses operating between the station and several of the city's major tourist attractions). A relatively new station, which opened in late 2021 with the completion of the Kunming-Mohan Railway. Trains from Kunming take 2½ to 3½ hours to reach Pu'er. From Jinghong, the journey time is only about 40 to 50 minutes. (updated Oct 2022)

By bus

• 3 Pu'er Bus Station (普洱客运站), 148 Zhenxing Avenue, Simao District (思茅区振兴大道148号) (there is a bus stop outside the station, which is served by bus nos. 1, 4 and CX01), ☏ +86 879 2308286. The city's main long-distance bus station. (updated Oct 2022)

Get around

1. Public transportation

Public transportation in Pu'er City is relatively simple, although not as developed as in large cities, but for daily travel and tourism can still meet basic needs.

Buses: Pu'er City has some urban bus lines covering major commercial, residential areas and some tourist attractions. Bus fares are cheap and suitable for short trips in the city.

Taxi: The number of taxis in Pu'er City is relatively small, but it is still relatively common in the city. Taxi fares are also relatively pro-democracy, and the distance is short, suitable for short trips.

Shared bicycles: In Pu'er urban areas, shared bicycles can sometimes be found, suitable for short-distance urban mobility.

2. Self-Driving and Car Rental

The transportation network in Pu'er City and surrounding areas is relatively perfect, and for tourists, self-driving tours are the best choice to explore Pu'er and its surrounding attractions. Here is some information about self-driving and car rental:

Self-driving: The road conditions in Pu'er City are better, especially on the main roads and roads connecting major attractions. The road conditions in Pu'er City and the surrounding mountains are better, suitable for self-driving travel, especially to tea gardens, terraces and other natural scenery places.

Car rental: In Pu'er City, car rental services are more common, visitors can rent cars at the airport, hotels or car rental companies. Car rental is a convenient way to visit Pu'er surrounding attractions, such as Menghai, Mengla, Lancang River and so on.

3. long-distance transportation

Pu'er City, as an important city in Yunnan Province, has a lot of long-distance transportation options, which is suitable for reaching other nearby cities or attractions.

Long-distance bus: Pu'er City has many long-distance bus stations, providing long-distance bus services to Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Honghe, Kunming and other places. The drive is usually longer, but the price is cheap and suitable for travelers on a lower budget.

Trains: Pu'er City is connected to other cities in Yunnan Province by rail, but Pu'er has no direct high-speed rail service and passengers need to transfer to other cities via Kunming. The railway station in Pu'er City has regular trains to the surrounding cities.

Airplane: Pu'er Simao Airport in Pu'er City, providing flights to Kunming and other places. The airport is located approximately 3 km northeast of the city centre and can be easily reached by taxi or airport bus.

4. Tour Charter and Guided Tours

For those who plan to learn more about Pu'erh, especially when it comes to Pu'erh tea culture, tea garden visits and ethnic villages and other attractions, choosing chartered buses and guided tours is a very good choice. Local tour companies offer charter and guided tours through which visitors can better understand Pu'er's history, culture and natural landscape.

See

• 1 Pu'er Museum (普洱市博物馆), No. 10 Pu'er Culture Center, Binhe Road, Simao District (思茅区滨河路普洱市文化中心10号) (take bus no. 4 and get off at the Pu'er Grand Theatre bus stop), ☏ +86 879 2306961. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. Part of a cluster of museums in the same building complex, which also includes the Pu'er Museum of Urban Planning, Science and Technology (普洱市城市规划与科技馆), the Pu'er Art Museum (普洱市美术馆) and the Pu'er Tea Museum (普洱茶博物馆). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Pu'er Tea Culture Exhibition Area: As a symbol of Pu'er Tea, Pu'er Tea Culture occupies an important position in the museum. The exhibition shows the historical origin, production technology, tea cultivation and cultural influence of Pu'er tea. Visitors can understand the whole process of Pu'er tea from picking to production by visiting, and can also see some historical relics, tools and information related to tea. History and Archaeology: The museum showcases the historical development of Pu'er, important archaeological excavations and heritage sites. These include the ancient cultural relics of Pu'er region, the evolution of local history, and the history of ethnic minorities. The exhibits here give visitors a deeper understanding of Pu'erh's history. Ethnic Culture: Pu'er is a settlement of many ethnic minorities, and the museum displays the culture and traditions of Hani, Yi, Dai and other ethnic groups, especially their costumes, festivals, and religious beliefs. Through these exhibitions, visitors can better understand Pu'er's multiculturalism. Nature and Ecology: Pu'er City is rich in natural resources and biodiversity, and the museum's Nature and Ecology section showcases Pu'er's flora and fauna, as well as the conservation of the ecological environment. This exhibition area is a must-see for environmentalists and nature explorers. Art and Folklore: This exhibition area showcases the rich folk art, handicrafts and local art works of the Pu'er region, where visitors can see the traditional craftsmanship and art styles of the region. Exhibits include handmade Dai silver ornaments, Hani traditional wood carving, Yi embroidery and so on.

Do

• 1 China Pu'er Tea Exhibition Garden.  (中华普洱茶博览苑) — Yingpan Mountain, Yixiang Town, Simao District (思茅区倚象镇营盘山) (take the special tourist bus that departs from outside Pu'er Railway Station) ☏ +86 879 2813788. Open daily 08:30-17:30. Entry tickets cost ¥30, battery car tickets also cost ¥30 (as of Oct 2022).
• 2 Pu'er Sun River National Park.  (普洱太阳河国家公园) — Dakai River Road, Yixiang Town, Simao District (思茅区倚象镇大开河段) (take the special tourist bus that departs from outside Pu'er Railway Station) ☏ +86 879 3027663. Open daily 08:00-18:00. Admission ¥150 (as of Oct 2022).
• 3 Pu'er Tea Horse Road Scenic Area.  (普洱茶马古道旅游景区) — Pu'er Avenue, Simao District (思茅区普洱大道) (take the special tourist bus that departs from outside Pu'er Railway Station; you can also get here on bus no. 3). ☏ +86 879 3088111 (enquiries), ☏ +86 879 3016111- (complaints). 121027478@qq.com Open M-Th 08:00-17:30, no entry after 16:30, F Sa 08:00-18:00, no entry after 17:00. Admission:=battery car tickets cost ¥10, the museum charges ¥60, the eagle show is ¥50, and the lake cruise is ¥30; all-inclusive tickets are also available for ¥80 (as of Oct 2022).
• 4 Jingmai Mountain.  (景迈山) — Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (澜沧拉祜族自治县) (about 200 km from downtown Pu'er and about 60 km from the county seat of Lancang County). Listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, this mountain is covered in old tea trees and tea has been produced here since the 10th century CE (as of Sep 2023). A company called Abaila Cultural Tourism (阿百腊文旅) operates bus services to the area from Pu'er Simao Airport, Pu'er Railway Station, and Lancang Jingmai Airport as well as the airport and railway station in Jinghong - tickets can be purchased on the company's WeChat account; alternatively you could get a bus to Huimin (惠民), which is the nearest town; buses to Huimin depart from Lancang Bus Station.

Buy

Pu'er town view

The area's best-known product is Pu'er cha, Pu'er tea, a heavily fermented tea packed into flat cakes. These were originally for the horse caravan trade into Tibet and Myanmar. The cakes are embossed with designs, pretty enough that some people hang them as wall ornaments.

Eat

• Crossbridge rice noodles are a very famous traditional dish in Yunnan, and although the origin of this dish is not directly related to Pu'er, it is very popular in Yunnan areas such as Pu'er. Rice noodles are made of rice, smooth taste, accompanied by hot soup, vegetables, meat and other ingredients, delicious, usually eat with rice noodles, soup and side dishes, hot soup can release the aroma of the ingredients to become a highlight.
• Pu'er sausage is one of the special food in Yunnan province. Pu'er climate is suitable for curing sausages, traditional Pu'er sausage is generally mixed with pork and seasoning, after air drying and smoking, the taste is fragrant and the meat is firm. It can usually be eaten with rice or as a snack.

Drink

Pu'er tea, as a drink, usually refers to tea made from Pu'er tea leaves in Yunnan Province. Pu'er tea has a long history of drinking, it is not only loved in China, but also has gone international, and has become a favorite drink of tea friends around the world. Pu'er tea can be divided into many different types according to the processing technology, fermentation degree and aging year, mainly including raw Pu'er tea and cooked Pu'er tea. Raw Pu'erh, also known as green Pu'erh, tea is not fermented after picking, belongs to the unfermented tea, the taste is relatively fresh and fragrant, but with the aging of time, the taste gradually becomes mellow and sweet.

Ripe Pu'er by artificial acceleration of the fermentation process, the taste is more mellow, mild, with a familiar earthy and woody aroma. Ripe Pu'er is characterized by a soft taste and easy entry.

Sleep

Residents of Pu'er region, like residents of other parts of Yunnan, usually have a relatively leisurely pace of life. The local lifestyle pays attention to the "slow life", which is also conducive to good rest and sleep.Pu'er tea contains caffeine, which makes it have a certain refreshing effect.Pu'er City is located in the southern part of Yunnan Province, located in the plateau, the climate is warm and humid, the four seasons like spring. Such climate characteristics can help people's rest and sleep quality.

Connect

Pu'er, as an important city in Yunnan, plays an important role in the connection with the outside world, whether it is transportation, economy, culture, or education. As the birthplace of Pu'er tea, it promotes the global spread of tea and maintains close trade and cultural ties with Southeast Asia and beyond. With the improvement of infrastructure, Pu'er will become closer to the outside world and become an important bridge between China and the international community.

Go next

• Menghai: about 2 hours drive from Pu'er City, suitable for self-driving or chartered bus to go. Here is the main production area of Pu'er tea, tea garden, tea factory, tea culture experience and other activities are very rich.
• Xishuangbanna: From Pu'erh, you can go to Xishuangbanna by long-distance bus, train or self-driving, and the journey takes about 4 to 5 hours.