MINGJING 茗鏡
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We are not a travel agency — we are storytellers, bridge-builders and companions on this path. This all-inclusive retreat has been carefully designed through deep immersion in the land, in close collaboration with tea teachers, farmers and artists. Every element of the experience has been thoughtfully shaped with respect for local rhythms, ancestral knowledge and the communities who welcome us. It is an invitation to live something rare and deeply rooted.
Tea will be our companion throughout the retreat. Rooted in the ancient medicinal tradition of this sacred plant, we will nourish body, mind and spirit with exceptional teas from across China, carefully sourced by our tea master Liu Laoshi, and shared in dialogue with tea farmers and the living intelligence of the plant itself. We will gather in the tea jungle for sacred rituals and moments of quiet presence, allowing each cup to deepen our connection to Mother Earth.
师造化 Shizaohua — “Nature is our Master.” In the spirit of this ancient Chinese teaching, we will walk with humility and reverence. Nature becomes our guide — a living, sacred force that teaches us how to listen, observe and move in harmony with life. Amidst the soothing soundscape of Xishuangbanna, we slow down to attune ourselves to Earth’s rhythms and explore the ancestral bond local communities maintain with the natural world and its protective deities.
“Less is more” is our guiding principle. We choose depth over haste, preferring meaningful time on the land and with local communities rather than rushing from place to place.
The journey is designed with spaciousness and care, allowing time for integration through meditation, qigong, journaling and quiet reflection. Each day, we will honor presence, fully immersed in Nature and gently disconnected from the modern world.
We will explore Chinese metaphysics through the Five Elements of traditional Chinese medicine and BaZi astrology as pathways for personal cultivation. Guided by the Way of Tea, Chan/Zen Buddhism and Daoist wisdom, we will deepen presence and inner harmony. Through the animist traditions of the Bulang people, we will cultivate a sacred relationship with the land. These intertwined teachings will support a profound connection to the spiritual landscapes of China.
We will gather a small group of twelve mindful participants for this transformative journey, cultivating a space of trust, presence and sincere connection. Each day, we will come together in circle to share, reflect and nurture our collective spirit. This sense of community and mutual care will lie at the heart of the experience, mirroring the way of life in the tea mountains, where collaboration and collective well-being shape everyday life.
We deeply believe in the nurturing power of art and craftsmanship. The ancient Chinese character for “Art” 藝 (Yì), depicts a human planting a tree, symbolizing growth, renewal and vital life force. Throughout the journey, we will engage in unique creative explorations guided by indigenous artists and artisans: pottery, tea craft, natural dyeing, sacred music and more. Each practice is carefully designed to nourish and ignite our inner creative fire.
We have carefully curated inspiring accommodations immersed in Nature, designed to support deep rest and renewal after each day’s experiences. The retreat begins in a peaceful luxury hotel in Menghai, before continuing into the heart of the tea forest in a Bulang village within the Jingmai Reserve, where daily life unfolds in close relationship with the land. Each place has been chosen to weave an intimate experience filled with beauty and quiet magic.
Throughout this experience, we will share earth-rooted meals — healthy, seasonal and deeply nourishing — prepared with reverence for Nature, its cycles and its living spirit. Infused with wild plants and medicinal herbs from Bulang and Dai lands, each meal becomes a moment of care, presence and connection. We believe the truest taste of a culture begins with its food. Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are available upon request.
Please note that the schedule may be subject to some adjustments.
11.04
Arrival at Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport
Gentle landing in Yunnan province.
Time to rest with healing tea, fresh fruits, and nourishing food.
Settle into the retreat sanctuary, spa on option.
As night falls, a welcoming tea ceremony with guqin music opens our circle.
We share gifts from the heart and set our intentions for the days to come.
Overnight stay at Angsana Retreat Hotel, in Menghai county.
11.05
Morning tea ritual, opening the senses, at Master Liu’s Tea School
An introductive class to Chinese philosophy,
supported by a Yijing oracle reading.
Slow hike through Nannuo Tea Mountain,
the ancestral home of the Ahka indigenous people.
Tea meditation in Nature, among ancient tea trees.
We pay tribute to the King Tea Tree and the Empress Tea Tree.
Overnight stay at Angsana Retreat Hotel.
11.06
Morning tea ritual, followed by a creative workshop at Master Liu’s Tea School
to craft our own personalized blended Pu’er tea cake.
In the afternoon, ceramics artist Master Qiu welcomes us
into his atelier nestled in the jungle.
Discovery of his innovative work rooted in traditional Dai pottery,
exclusively made with local sands and plants.
A hands-on moment to create our own tea bowl,
shaped by fire, earth and intention.
Overnight stay at Angsana Retreat Hotel.
11.07
Visit to a ripe Pu’er tea-making factory in Menghai,
exploring traditional production techniques.
We then journey toward Jingmai Tea Mountain,
a UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary.
Visit to mystic villages and temples, nestled on the slopes of the mountain.
Arrival at our very special retreat center, immersed in the rainforest,
lands of the Dai and Bulang peoples.
Welcoming dinner.
Overnight stay at Abaila.
11.08
Encounter with Yu Mu, an extraordinary tea farmer from the Bulang minority,
granddaughter of the last Bulang princess.
Immersion in her family’s tea garden, deep in the jungle.
Mindful hike to Aileng Sacred Hill, discovering the culture of her people
and their devotion to the Tea Ancestor.
Sour tea ritual among the ancient holly trees of the mountain,
supported by the chanting mantras of Bulang women.
At night, Yu Mu’s father, a highly respected healer of the community,
shares a traditional roasted tea with us.
Overnight stay at Abaila.
11.09
Morning tea picking with Yu Mu’s family,
guided by the presence of the Tea Spirit Tree.
In the afternoon, visit to Wengji Bulang village,
followed by a rainforest exploration with a local guide and a clay workshop.
At sunset, we share the most beautiful tea ritual.
An exclusive Jungle to Table experience,
designed by a French creative and a Bulang chief, concludes this magical day.
A unique menu, honoring Bulang medicinal plants
and the rainforest ecosystem.
Overnight stay at Abaila.
11.10
In the morning,
Yu Mu’s family guides the Pu’er tea-making process,
celebrating ancestral knowledge.
In the afternoon,
we visit to the preserved Nuogang village of the Dai people,
followed by a unique natural dye workshop
using medicinal rainforest plants with local artisans.
Qigong practice and meditation at sunset.
A joyful traditional Lao hotpot
concludes this magnificent journey in the Jingmai sanctuary.
Last night at Abaila.
11.11
Last morning blessed by the spirits of the Jingmai mountains,
a gentle transition back to Menghai.
Lunch and resting time
at the exclusive Angsana Retreat Hotel.
In the afternoon, we share a unique sensorial experience of
tea, incense and essential oils at Master Liu’s Tea School,
exploring traditional Chinese medicine.
After dinner, we gather for a final ceremony,
supported by the healing sounds of guqin music.
Heartfelt sharing to honor the uniqueness of our journey together.
Overnight stay at Angsana Retreat Hotel.
11.12
A slow morning to rest and integrate,
spa on option and a nourishing lunch
before opening a new chapter.
Departure from Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport.
Warm farewells,
carrying the essence of tea and shared presence
until we meet again.
Pauline Ferrières is a French creative director deeply passionate about traditional Chinese culture, craftsmanship and healing arts. Through her creative projects, she envisions a future in harmony with Nature, inspired by the timeless wisdom of ancient China. Fluent in Chinese, she has been immersed in the study of Chinese arts, calligraphy and metaphysics since 2018, guided by years of close relationships with artisans, teachers and cultural guardians. Her path has been shaped by precious encounters with masters such as Taiwanese Tea Master Liu, with whom she explores the medicinal dimension of tea and the depth of Chan/Zen Buddhist philosophy.
As co-founder of DEYI, Pauline works hand in hand with Dong indigenous women in Southwest China, preserving their extraordinary textile heritage through slow fashion, contemporary art and community empowerment. With a background in arts management, she curates exhibitions and facilitates creative retreats and workshops in China, Europe and the United States. Her offerings are known for weaving together a poetic, embodied understanding of Chinese culture, traditional arts and tea philosophy. Through this immersion, curated and facilitated by Pauline, participants are invited into an intimate relationship with the spirit of the lands she now calls home.
Zhang Xing is a Chinese interior designer, guided by an ethical design philosophy rooted in respect for Nature and human well-being. Through his work, he seeks to restore the connection between people, space and the living world, drawing on years of close engagement with artisans, landscapes and traditional knowledge. He collaborates closely with contemporary artists and indigenous artisans, preserving their ancestral craftsmanship while infusing it with a contemporary sensibility. Drawing on his deep knowledge of fengshui, his creations invite reflection on the essence of life, shaping spaces that honor the soul’s need for expression, harmony and balance.
Deeply inspired by ancestral Chinese wisdom, Zhang Xing has immersed himself in tea medicine, Chan/Zen philosophy and guqin practice as a disciple of Tea Master Liu. These disciplines profoundly inform his creative and spiritual path. Through DEYI, he is dedicated to sharing a renewed narrative of China, weaving together tradition and modernity through spaces, artworks and immersive experiences. During the journey, Zhang Xing will serve a selection of exceptional teas and medicinal blends, crafted by Master Liu to harmonize the Five Elements within the body according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
IG @deyi.living
Jen de Tréglodé is a tea educator, Chadao practitioner and certified tea sommelier based in San Luis Obispo. Her relationship with tea began in childhood and deepened through years of dedicated practice, where the Way of Tea revealed itself as both a spiritual path and a living teacher. Through workshops, immersions and gatherings, she explores the art of elemental embodiment and inner alchemy, guided by the subtle intelligence of tea.
Rooted in earth-based spirituality and Daoist philosophy, Jen approaches Chadao as a sacred eco-ritual — an invitation to slow down, listen deeply and restore harmony with Nature. Her work is grounded in reverence, reciprocity and deep listening, honoring tea as a bridge to presence, gratitude and belonging. During this immersion, she accompanies her students with care and attentiveness, offering a safe and inspiring container for learning, transformation and heartfelt connection — supporting each participant in cultivating a living relationship with tea and with themselves.
Yu Mu is a luminous presence at the heart of the Jingmai Mountains, carrying forward the living spirit of Bulang tea culture with generosity and quiet strength. Born and raised in Mangjing Village, she comes from a lineage rooted in the origins of tea. Trained for over a decade in artisanal tea production under the guidance of her father, Bulang herbalist Su Wenxin, she embodies a rare continuity between ancestral knowledge and contemporary life.
Through her deep roots in the community and the trust she has cultivated over generations, Yu Mu opens doors to experiences that are rarely accessible to outsiders. Participants are welcomed into intimate spaces of daily life, ancestral practices and sacred landscapes that are not normally open to visitors. Alongside her tea practice, she is also a gifted photographer, preserving the stories of her people with a sensitive and poetic eye. Through her presence, guests are invited into a profoundly authentic encounter with the land, its traditions and its living wisdom.
“This incredible experience allowed me to see China’s true colors — a potent blend of vibrancy, sacred reverence, beauty, and delightful wonder. I honestly believe that I would not have been able to witness and sense these tender moments with locals, the land, and their way of living on any other trip. This highly curated, bespoke experience is truly a trip of a lifetime. There’s truly no way I could have experienced all of the incredible moments on this trip on my own with my own planning — not a chance! Being able to fully trust each of the guides / facilitators and receive this experience fully was beyond what I could have envisioned. Can’t recommend this experience enough, there simply aren’t enough words to express how magical every detail was thought through and felt!”
K.
“This journey was so intentionally and thoughtfully crafted, and lead by such inspirational souls… I will be so eternally grateful to be a part of it. To be in a land of deep reverence to Nature and its roots, and to see the continued love and respect for Earth, its inhabitants, and ancestral connections, is very humbling. Having such unique opportunities to explore the land, immerse yourself in ancient traditions, to mingle among the warm people, and to share together in rituals and ceremonies has all been life changing, eye opening, and soul awakening. I thank, from the depths of my being, Pauline, Jade, Zhang Xing, and everyone who made this journey possible, by deepest gratitude.
I am still, and will forever, be reeling in the feels of it all.”
M.
“This retreat was beyond anything I could have imagined—an experience so profound, it’s hard to put into words. Every moment felt intentionally crafted, yet effortlessly flowing, like a dream unfolding in real time. From the misty morning walks to tea rituals under sacred trees, from hands-on artistry to witnessing ancient traditions come alive, every experience was layered with depth, beauty, and meaning.
What made it truly special, though, was the way we were held—so gently, so completely. Every detail was considered, from the smallest comforts to the grandest gestures. It wasn’t just a retreat; it was a portal into another way of being, a reminder to slow down, listen, and truly be.
I came back with more than memories—I came back transformed.“
E.
“This was an incredible journey beyond any expectations. The program was curated with so much attention and love.
They guided us with an open heart sharing precious knowledge but also gently guiding us without interfering in rediscovering our true nature, in connection with nature, the elements and the wisdom of tea.
The journey felt very authentic and I appreciated all the amazing local people we met that shared a precious moment of their life with us and brought us closer to their culture.
The connection between the participants and our guides was sincere and it felt like one big family.”
A.
Please note that the schedule may be subject to small adjustments.
