July 15th: Black Tea factory
After breakfast we took 4WD Jeeps through a rough winding road to see a Dian Hong black tea factory and enjoy a few cups of strong black tea. The most unusual feature was the 3rd floor bamboo drying floor where tea was spread out to dry and then dumped through a rectangular hole for processing.
Afterward we took another breathtaking drive on the way to Da Li. After browsing two hotels, the third was chosen for us, located right in the heart of the historic old city. We checked in, had a great meal and walked the bustling streets including the main drag nicknamed “Foreigners Street” where we saw our first non Chinese people outside of our group. The evening was spent at various street side shops as we explored this lively city.
