Culture
Banyan Tree Tengchong
Immersive Tengchong Local Culture Experience
Guests are invited to embark on a profound cultural journey rooted in Tengchong’s heritage — recreating the ancient tea rituals of the hourse caravans, savoring oil-lamp chicken, and exploring the joy of wild mushroom foraging. Through hands-on experiences and flavorful discoveries, the legacy of centuries-old intangible heritage and nature continues to unfold.
Horse Caravans Leixiang Tea
Along the ancient trade routes once traveled by horse caravans, the rich aroma of Tengchong tea journeyed beyond the borders. In days past, caravans crossed mountains between Myanmar and Tengchong, weaving the scent of Leixiang Tea into their long journeys. As glutinous rice was roasted in clay pots and rock salt met boiling water with a thunderous crackle, it echoed wishes for prosperity, peace, and smooth passage. Today, though the hoofbeats have faded, the memory lives on in a single cup of tea. Banyan Tree Tengchong invites you to follow the trail of tea into the heart of intangible heritage. Join our tea masters to relive the spirit of the caravans and embark on a journey of sustainable cultural discovery through the timeless ritual of Leixiang Tea.
Oil Lamp Chicken Soup
Oil Lamp Chicken is a traditional dish rooted in the folk culture of Tengchong—a slow-simmered delicacy born of time and flame. Replacing firewood with the gentle glow of an oil lamp, this ancient method is said to have originated by chance, yet its enduring flavor has kept it alive for generations. At Mingyue Restaurant in Banyan Tree Tengchong, Chef Li reimagines the classic, blending matsutake mushrooms, shark cartilage, dried scallops, and rare safflower tea oil from Hemu Village. The dish simmers in a sealed clay pot for six hours, with oil added every half hour to maintain a steady flame, carefully guarded by a catalpa wood cabinet. Rich, layered, and deeply aromatic, this dish embodies the heartfelt essence of the mountains and the artistry of intangible heritage—all from the light of a single lamp.
Wild Mushroom Feast
At the break of dawn, a foraging journey begins—into the misty pine forests, where summer rains awaken the mountains and wild mushrooms push through the earth. As light filters through the trees, foragers move quietly among the clouds and woods, handpicking porcini, termite mushrooms, and other natural treasures. Their fingertips carry the scent of soil; the sound of rustling pines and birdsong echoes all around. Guests are invited to savor these seasonal delicacies at the tented camp, discovering the hidden essence of Yunnan’s wild mushrooms—an elegant dance of earth and flavor upon the palate.
