(Late January to mid-February) Hike through the plum blossom forest in the mountains and collect local honey from farmers

“Hi everyone, I'm Xiao Li, from Eryuan, Dali. I love the mountains and waters of my hometown. Sometimes I go exploring by kayak or paddleboard, taking travelers topaddleboarding on West Lake, and sometimes I ride off-road vehicles up the mountains. I also love exploring the world outside. I used to be a surfing instructor for a while. Every Tuesday, I also take guests tovisit the traditional market in Fengyu. During the plum blossom season, I go hiking in the plum forests, and when the green plums are ripe, I take guests tomake green plum wine. I hope I'll have the chance to share these daily experiences with you all.”

One day in the middle of the month, I received a WeChat message from Brother Mao: 'Around next weekend, the plum blossoms will be in full bloom.'

The plum blossoms are blooming, and Chinese New Year is almost here. Time flies so fast.

Every year, we enjoy plum blossoms in winter and make green plum wine in summer. The vast stretches of plum blossoms are beautiful, though they only last for about twenty days. Visiting now is the perfect time to drink the green plum wine made in summer. While watching the plum petals slowly fall, the taste memories of green plum wine and plum blossom honey suddenly make me feel like I'm back in the plum forest after a summer rain. The red soil along the way is mixed with a green tartness, the mules and horses in the village are busy transporting green plums, and the entire hillside is filled with the scent of green plums.

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The plum blossom season has arrived

It's a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Dali. The route follows the national highway past villages and fields. Although it's winter now, the broad beans, dried moss (Gongcai), and rapeseed flowers on the road are all green, giving the illusion that it's not winter at all.

At the village entrance, some locals sell sweet and sour dried plums and various plum-based foods

Heading to the vast plum forest, you can see Fengyu Town in the distance. Every Tuesday there is a market

Arriving at Brother Mao's plum garden,Under the plum trees are earthen beehives built by Brother Mao's father over 40 years ago using red soil from the mountain. They are very unique, looking like little villas. When the plum blossoms are in full bloom, it's also the busiest time for the bees; the whole forest hums, and it's the best time to taste plum blossom honey.

Brother Mao's father harvesting honey:

On the return journey, you can dine at local restaurants in the Cattle and Horse Market in Dengchuan Town (average 30-40 RMB per person, for a sit-down meal), or at a farmhouse restaurant (nongjiale) in Songhe Village.

When June and July come and the green plums are in season, we go to pick them and make green plum wine.