Yunnan Lincang Travel Guide

Lincang is a prefecture city in southwest corner of Yunnan Province. It is about 600km away from provincial capital Kunming. It borders Pu’er city to its east, Dali Bai Ethnic Autonomous Prefecture to its north. It is a border city which shares a long borderline with Burma to its west and south.  It is now home to 2.2 million people of 23 different ethic background. It sits between two major rivers, Nujiang River (Salween river) and Langcangjiang River(known as Mekong River in Southeast Asia), hence the name Lincang which literally means “by the side of Lancangjiang River”. Administratively, it is divided into 8 parts (Linxiang District, Yun County, Fengqing County, Yongde County, Zhenkang County, Dima County, Wayuan County and Shuangjiang County). It boasts huge natural resources and is a major producer of sugar, tea and wine. As for hospitality, Lincang with its natural scenery and dazzling ethnic culture, has much to offer.

● Highlights of Lincang

Wa culture: Lincang is a multi ethnic city, with more than 23 different groups of ethnic population live side by side in peace. Wa people is one of them. Wa is an ethnic group lived both in China and Burma (mostly found in Wa Special Region of Burma). Currently, about 420 thousand Wa people live in China. Their life style and culture influenced and shaped modern day Lincang. Lincang is the spiritual home of Wa people with many of Wa traditions and practices rooted in Lincang. Most Wa people habitat in two autonomous counties, Cangyuan and Dima. For those who like to explore and experience Wa culture, these two counties are places to go.

Tea culture：Lincang is the centre of tea culture in Yunnan and China. As the home of Yunnan black tea, this area has the largest tea garden and the greatest tea output in Yunnan. Its has more than 5,500 mu ancient tea plants and has done for over 3,200 years. Lingcang Tea Culture and Customs Garden (临沧茶文化风情园) is the perfect stage to experience the profound tea culture. It is set up to demonstrate the out side world that this city is the tea centre of China. This park is located at Chayuan Road, Linxiang district, easily accessed by bus or taxi.

The cliff paintings of Cangyuan is the oldest wall painting found in China. It is said to take on different colors as the time, weather and humidity change. According to the proverb of the local Wa and Dai (Thai) people that the cliff painting changes three times a day: in the morning the color is red, at noon lighter and in the evening purple. Nowadays the paintings have already been designated as the key historical relic protection unit at the provincial level.

Ethnic Festivals：With rich ethnic culture, Lincang holds many festivals or holidays related to many different ethnic groups. Xin mi jie (Xinmi festival, new rice festival or festival of rice soul) is a Wa festival. It is held during August on lunar calender. It lasts three days during which people gather newly harvested rice grains and make ample meals in the village with these new rice. Another noticeable Wa festival is mo ni hei (paint your body black). It rooted in old Wa tradition of smearing mud, ash or animal blood onto human body to act as ways of exorcising.

Wengding Village: Wengding Village used to be a well preserved Wa village in Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County. Combining the ethnic flavor of the Wa people and fascinating natural beauty, It maintained the old architectures and life style of Wa people.

However, fire swept through the 400-year-old village of Wengding in southwest China on February 14, 2021, almost obliterating the historic site in Yunnan province. In all, 107 homes of the Wa ethnic minority were destroyed, leaving just four houses in the traditional village.

● Lincang Food&Drinks

First thing worth mentioning is the Puer tea. Puer is the most popular tea type in China and is welcomed by many tea lovers abroad. Lincang is the original place and currently the largest producer of Puer tea.

Suan rou (sour meat) is a popular snack among Wa people. Beef are cleaned then marinated with salt, peppercorn and rice before put into sealed pottery jars. After one month of fermentation, the meat is ready to serve. It is often sliced into thin pieces and used in stir-fries with seasonal vegetables.

● Lincang Transportation

Lincang is an important border city in southwest China. It has five land routes connect China and Burma. It shares a 300km long borderline with Burma and is conveniently linked with many Burmese towns and cities.

Lincang Boshang Airport (LNJ) is the main airport in Lincang city. It is about 22km south of Lincang city. Currently, there are two airliners operating in LNJ, China Eastern (Yunnan branch) and Kunming Airline. They provide domestic routes that connect Lincang with cities such as Kunming, Chengdu, Changsha and Lijiang.

All the eight counties in the prefecture are well linked by high grade highway, some of which are built under very dangerous and difficult geographical conditions. These roads and bridges are themselves treat to your eyes when you drive through mountains and valleys of Lincang.

● Lincnag Climate

Lincang is a relatively warm and wet place. Much of Lincang city is in subtropical or tropical climate zone. The average temperature is around 20 degree Celsius. It has a typical monsoon weather pattern with raining season concentrated in April and May.