Complete Guide to Pu'er, Yunnan｜A Date with Coffee and Rainforest in a 22℃ Summer

Summer in Yunnan is not just about the winds of Dali or the clouds of Lijiang; it also hides a "treasure town" named by National Geographic—Pu'er. With an annual average temperature of 20℃ and a peak summer temperature of only 26℃, the city is filled with the aroma of coffee mixed with the humidity of the rainforest. Three days and two nights are enough for you to unlock the slow pace of the "Hometown of Coffee in China" and even venture into the home of wild Asian elephants. 🌟 Why must you visit Pu'er? - The ultimate summer cool spot: Only Pu'er locals understand the joy of wearing long sleeves in summer - Coffee lovers' paradise: From plantations to labs, taste the top coffee beans in China - Off the beaten path: Quieter than Dali, more pristine than Xishuangbanna, locals live a slow life of "tea drinking and bird watching" - Many hidden activities: Rainforest hiking, firefly watching, strolling through century-old caravan streets, surprises around every corner 📅 Classic 3-day 2-night itinerary (with hidden activities) 🌞 Day 1: Healing moments at a coffee plantation - Transportation: Take the Fuxing high-speed train from Kunming Station (2.5 hours direct to Pu'er, recommended to choose a departure before 9:00 AM for more time to explore) - 14:00 Xiao Aozi Coffee Plantation A "coffee secret spot" hidden on a hillside, the owner is an 80-year-old coffee master who will personally guide you through the plantation and explain the differences between "honey processing" and "sun drying." Sitting at an outdoor wooden table, the barista will serve three hand-brewed coffees with different processes: - Honey processed: Like biting into tropical fruit, sweet with acidity - Sun-dried: Rich like caramel, with a nutty finish - Wine-flavored beans: Fermented with a light wine aroma, perfect for those who enjoy a slight buzz ✨ Hidden perk: Fireflies appear at night from June to August! Tiny lights among the coffee bushes look like the Milky Way brought into the plantation (book one day in advance, wear long pants to prevent mosquito bites) - 19:00 Dinner at Simao District Night Market Staying in Simao District is most convenient! Recommended dishes include "Alan Breakfast" bean soup rice sheets (softer and stickier than rice noodles, with a milky bean soup) or "Zhang’s BBQ" grilled pork belly (local chili powder is so fragrant it makes you stomp your feet). 🌞 Day 2: Wandering through old streets and coffee aromas - 10:00 Torch Coffee Lab Known as the "Huangpu Military Academy" of China’s coffee scene, the walls are covered with international competition medals. Must-try is the "Yunnan Small Bean Hand Brew." Staff will use "cupping" methods to let you taste three roasting levels, making it easy for beginners to understand flavor differences. Take home a bag of "anaerobic fermented beans"—brewing them at home fills your space with tropical fruit aromas. - 12:30 Explore Simao Old Street and eat The bluestone roads hide caravan history, and old wooden window frames are covered with bougainvillea. - Must-eat: "Li’s Sour Chicken Feet" in the alley, chicken feet soaked in spicy and sour sauce with a chewy texture, paired perfectly with iced papaya juice - Photo spot: The exterior wall of the "Coffee Museum" in Daijia Alley, vintage red bricks with greenery, perfect for artistic photos - 16:00 Local life at Xima River Park A "back garden" where locals stroll and play chess; walking around the lake you can see elderly ladies practicing Tai Chi under old tea trees. Don’t miss the market at the park entrance: wild mushrooms for 5 yuan a bunch, freshly made glutinous rice cakes, bamboo woven baskets. When bargaining, say "fellow villager, a little cheaper," and the vendor might throw in some wild fruit. 🌞 Day 3: Rainforest or flowers, two ways to end your trip - Option A: Rainforest adventure (for nature lovers) In the morning, visit Sun River Forest Park. A one-hour hike can bring you face to face with red pandas and gibbons, and if lucky, you might spot wild Asian elephant droppings (the park has professional guides, safety first). Before returning to Kunming in the afternoon, bring home a pack of "Pu'er Small Tuocha" tea—the aroma of tea and coffee together to take back. - Option B: Flowers and Dianchi Lake (for romantics) Take the 11:00 high-speed train back to Kunming, then head straight to the Dounan Flower Market: 3 bunches of roses for 10 yuan, 1 bouquet of hydrangeas for 20 yuan. Spend over 50 yuan and get free shipping home (the florist will help you wrap in a freshness bag so flowers stay fresh). In the evening, go to Haigeng Dam at Dianchi Lake to enjoy the breeze and watch the sunset dye the lake golden red. 📌 Practical Tips (avoid pitfalls + save money) - Transportation: - Buy Kunming↔Pu'er high-speed train tickets 2 days in advance; weekends sell out quickly - Taxi starting fare in Pu'er city is 6 yuan; shared electric bikes are more convenient for Xima River and Old Street (3 yuan/30 minutes) - Accommodation: Choose a place near "Tea Horse Ancient Town" in Simao District. Recommended is "Yunshang Coffee House," where the homestay owner brews hand-pour coffee, and you can wake up to the aroma of coffee in the morning. - Must-try list: - Vinegar rice noodles: The sour soup is made from tomato and lemon; add "minced meat + braised pork" for a double combo - Wrapped grilled enoki mushrooms: Dai-style cooking, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled, garlic aroma mixed with mushroom fragrance - Paoluda: Burmese dessert, bread soaked in coconut milk, a perfect remedy for spiciness - Souvenirs: Torch Coffee’s "drip bags" (great for beginners), Xiao Aozi’s "coffee flower honey" (honey made from coffee flowers, sweet but not cloying) The romance of Pu'er is the sunshine in your coffee cup, the moss between the old street’s stone slabs, and the relaxed "take it slow" attitude of the locals. Here, there’s no need to rush your itinerary—find a coffee shop, sit for an afternoon, and watch the sunlight dance through the leaves into your cup—that’s what summer should feel like.