Lincang (临沧) is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Yunnan Province, China, bordering Myanmar to the south with a ~290 km border. The name means “near the Lancang River” (the upper Mekong).
Key Facts
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Area: ~24,000 km² | Population: ~2.2 million (2023), home to 23 ethnic groups including the Wa, Dai, Lahu, and Bulang peoples
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Climate: A mild subtropical highland climate with an average annual temperature of ~19°C — nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” (恒春之都)
What Lincang Is Known For
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The birthplace of Yunnan black tea (滇红/Dianhong) — Fengqing County is where Dianhong was first created in the 1930s; its rich, malty flavor became world-famous
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One of the world’s oldest tea regions — scholars trace cultivated tea origins here; Bingdao (冰岛) tea from Shuangjiang County is among the most prized Pu’er teas
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The world’s largest macadamia nut (Australian nut) growing base
Top Attractions
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Wengding Wa Village (翁丁) – in Cangyuan County, called “China’s Last Primitive Tribe,” a 400-year-old Wa village of thatched stilted houses; rebuilt after the 2021 fire and now a national 4A scenic area
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Cangyuan Cliff Paintings – ancient rock art ~3,000 years old
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Yongde Snow Mountain – ecological reserve with waterfalls and primeval forest
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Lu Shi Ancient Town – a 1,000-year-old post town on the Tea Horse Road, famous for ham
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“Monihei” Carnival – the Wa Black Mud Festival each spring (April–May), where being smeared with black mud brings blessing
Access
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Train: Dali–Lincang railway (opened Dec 2020) connects Lincang to the national high-speed rail network via Dali
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Airports: Lincang Airport (Lincang) and Washan Airport (Cangyuan)
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Highways: 6 expressways link the city, with the Lincang–Qingshuihe expressway (opened April 2025) leading to the Qingshuihe Port — China’s nearest land port to the Indian Ocean
Lincang sits on the China–Myanmar Economic Corridor and is positioning itself as a frontier hub toward the Indian Ocean.