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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Laos & China 2025
Day 10 : Around Pu'er City - Nakeli 
Laos-China 2025 Day 10: 13th December (Saturday)
This is page 10 of a 12-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.
< D9: Pu'er 01 | Go to Other Days | D11: Kunming 01 >
< D9: Pu'er 01 | Go to Other Days | D11: Kunming 01 >
Route recommendations, here are some tips on travelling to and around Laos:
1. Traffic Directions!
China, is left-hand drive, and vehicles drive on the right side of the road. So do bear this in mind when crossing the road OR when sitting at the front passenger seat. I made this mistake several times and boarded the car at the driver's side with the driver giving me a surprised look 😂.
We flew AirAsia from KLIA Terminal 2 to Vientiane's Wattay International Airport; buying tickets earlier to get cheaper fares. Considering the potential difficulties with luggage storage during the later train journey in Laos, we also packed light (20kg checked-in luggage for two people). Together with carry-on luggage, we each had 17kg per person. Fare was MYR407 per pax.
We booked our train tickets from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang to Xishuangbanna through the LCR App. For the Luang Prabang to Xishuangbanna leg, electronic train tickets need to be changed to physical paper tickets at the Luang Prabang Train Station (at a counter of the ticketing office, so arrive earlier to do this).
We booked our train tickets from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang to Xishuangbanna through the LCR App. For the Luang Prabang to Xishuangbanna leg, electronic train tickets need to be changed to physical paper tickets at the Luang Prabang Train Station (at a counter of the ticketing office, so arrive earlier to do this).
3. Getting from town to town in China.
For China, getting between major cities is easy using the China HSR trains (for us, it's from Pu'er City to Kunming). Tickets can be booked via www.12306.cn OR Trip.com; electronic tickets need to be changed to physical paper tickets.
For China, getting between major cities is easy using the China HSR trains (for us, it's from Pu'er City to Kunming). Tickets can be booked via www.12306.cn OR Trip.com; electronic tickets need to be changed to physical paper tickets.
For travel between cities not served by the trains, we pre-booked a private driver contacted through WeChat - from Jinghong, Xishuangbanna to Jingmai Mountain (Wengji Village & Nougan Village) to Pu'er City).
4. Getting around towns and cities in China.
In China, install the Didi ride-hailing app, which is extremely convenient to use, especially in major cities, and English can be selected as the preferred language. Just type in the destinations in English, and a list comes out for selection. There is a need to bind the app to a credit/debit card. Rides are relatively cheap, as most riders use e-vehicles.
In China, install the Didi ride-hailing app, which is extremely convenient to use, especially in major cities, and English can be selected as the preferred language. Just type in the destinations in English, and a list comes out for selection. There is a need to bind the app to a credit/debit card. Rides are relatively cheap, as most riders use e-vehicles.
From our homestay, we walked to Chama Ancient City. Entry tickets to the park were bought through our homestay at a discounted price. Later, we took Didi ride-hailing app to and from Nakeli Ancient Village.
Note: Touch 'n Go e-Wallet doesn't seem to work in Laos. It works well in China and Thailand.
Note: Touch 'n Go e-Wallet doesn't seem to work in Laos. It works well in China and Thailand.
5. Immigration & Customs Requirements
For China, Malaysians can enter, exit, or transit the country without a visa for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days within any 180 days. Permitted purposes include tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, private affairs, medical treatment, and international transportation (such as airline crew duties). The travel passport must be valid throughout the whole period of stay or 180 days from the day of first entry.
Click here for China visa-free policy for other countries, and here for China Visa application.
Click here for the China China Arrival Card for phones. Do note some scams regarding these online forms. OR one can alternatively fill in paper forms, which are available at the train stations or during the flight.
Click here for China visa-free policy for other countries, and here for China Visa application.
Click here for the China China Arrival Card for phones. Do note some scams regarding these online forms. OR one can alternatively fill in paper forms, which are available at the train stations or during the flight.
6. Places & Things of Interests
Enroute were several places of interest, some of which we visited and others we did not for lack of time (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
a. Chama Ancient City Travel Town (茶马古城旅游小镇) (GPS: 22.81965, 100.98833)
b. Tea Horse Ancient Road Relic Park (茶马古道旅游景区) (GPS: 22.83183, 100.99683), adjacent to the Chama Ancient City Travel Town, & within it:
b. Tea Horse Ancient Road Relic Park (茶马古道旅游景区) (GPS: 22.83183, 100.99683), adjacent to the Chama Ancient City Travel Town, & within it:
i. Simao Chengguan Entrance Arches (思茅城关) (GPS: 22.82093, 100.98946).
ii. Tea Horse Road Park Ropeway Ride (GPS: 22.82141, 100.99224).
ii. Tea Horse Road Park Ropeway Ride (GPS: 22.82141, 100.99224).
iv. Yinmahu Lake (饮马湖) (GPS: 22.82111, 100.98979) and the petting zoo nearby.
v. Songmingge Pavilion (宋茗阁) (GPS: 22.83677, 100.99703).
vi. Tribute Tea Center (贡茶院) (GPS: 22.83138, 100.99184).
c. Nakeli Water Wheel (GPS: 22.91027, 101.04138).
d. Nakeli Ancient Village (那柯里茶马驿站景区) (GPS: 22.91036, 101.03916).
e. Wind and Rain Bridge (风雨桥) (GPS: 22.90986, 101.03816).
f. Old Tea House Nakeli (GPS: 22.90951, 101.03797).
v. Songmingge Pavilion (宋茗阁) (GPS: 22.83677, 100.99703).
vi. Tribute Tea Center (贡茶院) (GPS: 22.83138, 100.99184).
c. Nakeli Water Wheel (GPS: 22.91027, 101.04138).
d. Nakeli Ancient Village (那柯里茶马驿站景区) (GPS: 22.91036, 101.03916).
e. Wind and Rain Bridge (风雨桥) (GPS: 22.90986, 101.03816).
f. Old Tea House Nakeli (GPS: 22.90951, 101.03797).
7. Food
a. Breakfast
Self-made Mamee Chef Lontong Flavour Instant Noodles at our homestay.
b. Morning Tea
Glutinous Rice Cake sold by an old lady vendor at Zhongyi Station (GPS: 22.83832, 100.99911) in Tea Horse Ancient Road Relic Park.
Glutinous Rice Cake sold by an old lady vendor at Zhongyi Station (GPS: 22.83832, 100.99911) in Tea Horse Ancient Road Relic Park.
c. Lunch
At Old Beijing Flavours (GPS: 22.81944, 100.98877) in Chama Ancient City:
Wantan Soup, Noodle Soup, Zhajiangmian, Steamed Dumpling sides, & Red Bean Paste Mochi dessert.
Wantan Soup, Noodle Soup, Zhajiangmian, Steamed Dumpling sides, & Red Bean Paste Mochi dessert.
d. Dinner
i. Xinjiang Lamb Skewers (very good, we went for seconds).
iii. Prawn & Pork Spring Roll.
iv. Potato Fried Rice.
8. Accommodations
Second of two nights at Nanling Inn (GPS: 22.81996, 100.98932) in Pu'er City. Two 2-pax rooms at RM379.68 for two nights (No Breakfast) booked via Trip.com (Breakfast not included).
9. Communicating with Each Other
Before we left, we purchased online the Happy China Sim Card and got the 8-Day 8GB and 16GB cards for RM25.29 and RM40.03 respectively. The cards were only inserted when we entered China.
For China domestic flights, international flights from China, and connecting flights with China legs, only China 3C-certified power banks with a capacity of no more than 20,000 mAh are allowed. They must be taken out of the cabin luggage space and placed in the seat pockets. The power banks have to be switched off and cannot be used during the flight. Click here for more power-bank restrictions. Alternatively, it would be a good idea to rent a power bank in China.
For China domestic flights, international flights from China, and connecting flights with China legs, only China 3C-certified power banks with a capacity of no more than 20,000 mAh are allowed. They must be taken out of the cabin luggage space and placed in the seat pockets. The power banks have to be switched off and cannot be used during the flight. Click here for more power-bank restrictions. Alternatively, it would be a good idea to rent a power bank in China.
10. Communicating with Locals
Except for those in the travel industry, in China, most locals speak Mandarin, or the local Yunnan languages, like Dai, Naxi, Yi, and Bai, etc. To get by, it will be good to speak some basic Mandarin.
One can also use Google Translate or Papago (delivers higher accuracy and better pronunciation for East Asian content like Korean, Japanese, and Chinese).
10. Weather
A useful weather forecast site for China is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
11. Navigation
Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
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PRELUDE
Today, we explore remnants of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, visit another of its ancient towns, and see how that old tea trade route has historically affected this region.
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DAY 10: AROUND PU'ER CITY - NAKELI
Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first. FB has recently changed its approach, and as such, all relevant links are now inserted in the comments.)
Good morning!
It's a simple breakfast of self-cooked Mamee Chef Lontong Flavour Instant Noodles in our room at Nanling Inn. We had brought instant noodles along from Malaysia as emergency rations. Now, almost at the end of our tour, we might as well eat them instead of carrying them all the way back. Besides, we have to make space for shopping for stuff here to take back home 😉!
Good morning!
It's a simple breakfast of self-cooked Mamee Chef Lontong Flavour Instant Noodles in our room at Nanling Inn. We had brought instant noodles along from Malaysia as emergency rations. Now, almost at the end of our tour, we might as well eat them instead of carrying them all the way back. Besides, we have to make space for shopping for stuff here to take back home 😉!
From Nanling Inn, it was just a short walk to Simao Chengguan Arches, the entrance to the Tea Horse Ancient Road Relic Park. The arches are part of a tall, grey stone wall, reminiscent of the Great Wall of China, and two huge stone horse statues greet visitors at this entrance.
Tip: For those who stay within the Chama Ancient City Travel Town, buying entry tickets to this relic park through the hotel reception is cheaper.
9:45am - Just after the entrance arches is the small Yinmahu Lake (GPS: 22.82111, 100.98979), and at the lakeside is a small petting zoo. What caught our eyes first were these Capybaras. These huge mammals, the largest of the rodent family, are native to South America. They have travelled a long distance to come here, and reminded me of the cute little guinea pigs I had as pets during my school days.
The next cute thing that caught our eyes was these Mini Pot-Bellied Pigs. From their snuffly snout to curly tail, these adorable critters are highly intelligent, social, and inquisitive, and will happily roll over for a tummy rub, as well as snuggle with you.
From the petting zoo, a rope-way cable car took us up to the lakeside of Dingbo Lake (Standing Water Lake).
The name of the lake comes from a fountain show performed here, where water shoots up like it's standing. Every once in a while, it goes into a dancing wavy pattern, and with the sun rays it often forms a rainbow in the water spray. Perhaps it should be called Rainbow Dancing Water Lake.
Other than the fountain show, there were other displays, like this one of a Commorant fishing. The cormorant will fly up, swoop down into the water, and come up with a fish in its beak. A ring at the bird's neck prevents the bird from swallowing the fish.
The previous time I saw Commorant fishing was at Erhai Lake in Dali City, during a 2011 Yunnan tour. In a large lake, and carried out by a real fisherman, it was more realistic.
Next was a large-scale, immersive water dance performance with ethnic songs held at the lake. It was called "Love Song of the Caravan" and performed by a cast dressed in elaborate tribal costumes. It tells of young men leaving on a tea caravan along the Ancient Tea Horse Road, taking Pu'er Tea to the west. They will be gone for years, and those they leave behind, sadly, wave them goodbye while singing the "Love Song of the Caravan". Quite a touching story.
The cast are dressed as different Chinese tribal ethic people, such as the Hani, Miao, and Yi people, etc.
..... which took us up Tea Mountain .....
..... with views of the tea shrubs planted on the terraced hillside.
At Zhongyi Station, the top stop of the ropeway, having Glutinuous Rice Cake snack sold to us by a tribal old lady.
At the Zhongyi Station is an exhibition with paintings of life on the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
From the Zhongyi Station it was a short walk down to the God Tree with life-sized statues of riders, horses, and stables. It was a rest-stop along the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
A bit further along was the Songmingge Pavilion. This is one marvelous building, not a small pavilion but a big wooden building with a double-tiered Chinese roof.
Intricately built dioramas of the Ancient Tea Horse Road are on display at Songmingge.
From here, we continued walking down the trail to an electric buggy station. It's an easier walk down as the trail is on a wooden boardwalk with steps at steeper sections.
And the trail passed by several terraced tea plantations.
Our first buggy ride down. Each electric buggy seats about fifteen people.
Midway down, at the Tribute Tea Centre, is a major buggy stop. Here we changed buggy. We did not go in, but gathered that they do sell Pu'er Tea inside.
From here, it's a second buggy ride down.
At the end of the second buggy ride, one can walk down to the third buggy station.
OR like us, pay for a roller coaster ride down. Each person sits in an individual car, I was trying to film the ride with my phone with has a strap. But the turns got sharper and rougher, SO I just held on for dear life after a while.
OR like us, pay for a roller coaster ride down. Each person sits in an individual car, I was trying to film the ride with my phone with has a strap. But the turns got sharper and rougher, SO I just held on for dear life after a while.
After the roller coaster, it's a third buggy ride back to the park entrance!
2:15pm - And that's the end of our 3-1/2 hour park visit. It was worth every cent as it included an immersive water dance performance, a petting zoo, a ropeway car and buggy rides, old pavilions - all set within an old tea road among tea plantations.
Back to our favourite eats place at the Old Beijing Flavours Restaurant:
After lunch, we took a Didi ride to the Nakeli Ancient Village,
but first we stopped at the Nakeli Water Wheel opposite the park.
Just into the Nakeli Ancient Village, it's coffee time at Yili Coffee. Sipping coffee and relaxing in their paddy garden, and observing what's going on in the village.
A walk through the Nakeli Ancient Village.
The village of Nakeli, with its century-old timber houses, previously witnessed boisterous camel caravans carrying sacks of tea leaves as they wound through ancient China's vast western area all the way to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Now, tourists can also immerse themselves in activities such as making Pu'er tea products, retracing ancient paths on horseback, and tasting intangible cultural heritage cuisine.
At the other end of the village is the Wind and Rain Bridge, a unique timber bridge spanning over a stream to the other side.
On the other side is the Na Ke Li Ma Bang Cai, the old tea house of Nakeli.
On the walk back to the main entrance, a handsome guy singing karaoke songs looked out the window and started serenading Anneh. A Chinese version of Juliet serenading Romeo?
7:30pm - Hopped onto a Didi ride and we are at the Chama Ancient City Food Street (GPS: 22.81813, 100.98727).
Our dinner at the food street:
i) Xinjiang Lamb Skewers (very good, we went for seconds & the vendor was a happy guy who did a jiggle for us), ii) Pu'er Stir-fried Tofu with Mint Leaves, iii) Prawn & Pork Spring Roll, & iv. Potato Fried Rice.
With time to spare, we visited the Tian Sheng Xiang Supermarket. We found that fresh food is much cheaper in China. Is it because of the hybrid communist-capitalist system, which allows profits while controlling excessive ones?
体验茶马古道的美好一天。
meaning "A wonderful day of experiencing the Tea Horse Ancient Road.")
(For more photos of Day 10, Click Here)
This is page 10 of a 12-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.
< D9: Pu'er 01 | Go to Other Days | D11: Kunming 01 >
< D9: Pu'er 01 | Go to Other Days | D11: Kunming 01 >
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