Pu'er Travel Guide

Population: 2,480,300

Area: 45,385 square kilometers (17,523 square miles)

Nationalities: Hani, Lahu, Wa, Yi, Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Simao); 9 autonomous counties (Ning'er Hani and Yi Autonomous County, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, Jinggu Dai Autonomous County, Zhenyuan, Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu autonomous County, Jiangcheng Hani and Yi autonomous County, Menglian Dai, Lahu, Wa Autonomous County, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County, Ximeng Wa Autonomous County)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0879-96927
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Location: Situated in the northwest of Yunnan Province, Pu'er has an important location in China's southwestern boundary, neighboring Laos, Vietnam and Burma and sharing a 486 kilometers (302 miles) boundary line with these three countries. Kunming is about 550 kilometers (342 miles) from Pu'er.

History: Pu'er holds a vital location linking the landway and waterway transportation between China hinterland and Southeast Asia. In 1896, it has been opened up as a commerce port, being one of the three towns of trading importance in Yunnan. The Pu'er City is changed from Simao City, which is famous for the Pu'er Tea.

Physical Features: As to the terrain, Pu'er lies at the southwest edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, belonging to the south section of the Hengduan Mountains. Within the territory, mountains and rivers line up southward, alternating with each other tensely in the north and gradually dispersing to the southeast and the southwest. Medium mountains and valleys between them constitute nearly ninety percent the city's territory.

Climatic Features: Enjoying a plateau monsoon climate at low altitude, Pu'er is affected by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the main features of its weather are mildness and humidity without strong wind. It has wet season and dry season. November is the rainy season, and the temperature is high. The annual average temperature of the city is contained between 15.3C (59.5F) and 20.2C (68.4F).

When to Go: all the year round

Local Highlights: Pu'er assembles many ethnic minorities, such as Lahu, Hani, Wa and Yi. Varied customs make the city a colorful city. Eating habits, ceremonies, costumes and folk legends can all be lures for people's visiting. In addition, Pu'er city is the hometown of the well known Pu'er Tea, and Pu'er people have diversified ways of handling tea, such as bamboo tube tea, cold tea dish, earth-pot tea and baked tea.

Special Local product: Pu'er Tea, bamboo shoot, edible fungi, purple rice, mango

Scenic Spots:
China Pu'er Tea Exhibition Garden: Tea culture is an attractive tourist factor of Pu'er City. The garden is built on the Yingpan Mountain, 29 kilometers (18 miles) from downtown Pu'er. Against the background of a vast tea garden, it is made up of Pu'er Tea Museum, Pu'er Tea making workshop, tea-picking zone, tea appraisal garden and some other facilities to comprehensively show the history of Pu'er Tea, and how to plant and produce as well.
Awa Mountain: Sea cloud in winter and spring is the most fascinating scenes of the Awa Mountain in Ximeng. After the clouds disperse, bamboo house in villages, terraced fields and Musa trees are exposed and the Awa Mountain looks more tranquil and beautiful.

Tourist Tips:
1. Simao Airport lies at the south foot of the Wuliang Mountain, 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of the city outskirt. At present, direct flights to Kunming, Xian and Jinan are provided. If getting to or from other cities, visitors should transfer to Kunming first. It is 40 minutes to Pu'er.
2. Pu'er does not have train station. Road is the main way for transportation. Pu'er is five hours' drive from Kunming.