Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway

　　Yunnan’s Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway is China’s first highway to traverse a national-level tropical rainforest nature reserve. It begins in the southern suburbs of Simao District in Pu’er City and ends in Xiaomengyang, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, stretching 97.7 kilometers in total. Built as a four-lane mountainous expressway, it features 351 bridges and 15 tunnels. Along the route, you’ll find a national forest park, traditional Dai homes, vast tea plantations, and a tropical rainforest nature reserve. It serves as a cultural bridge between Han and Dai peoples, a scenic drive through the rainforest, an eco-corridor to South and Southeast Asia, and a highway that combines tourism, ecology, and environmental protection.

　　The Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway boasts stunning natural scenery and pleasant landscapes, creating the visual effect of a black road winding through lush greenery on both sides. It offers the experience of “endless greenery on both sides, driving through layer upon layer of mountains.”

　　The Datugang Tea Plantation, covering thousands of acres, is just 2 kilometers from the Datugang Interchange on the Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway. It lies along the ancient Tea Horse Road and is famed for its vast expanse, formed by approximately 20,000 acres of contiguous tea fields.

　　The tunnel portals of the Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway feature unique designs, each with its own scenic charm. Many incorporate elements of local ethnic culture—some resemble traditional Dai princess hats, while others imitate ancient city gates. These portals blend harmoniously with the surrounding environment, forming striking highlights along the expressway.

　　The Elephant Viewing Platform is located at the junction of the eastern and western sections of the Mengyang Nature Reserve. This area is densely forested and teeming with wildlife, serving as a natural corridor for animals. The region has numerous valleys and clear streams, making it a frequent habitat for wild elephants. It is the only spot along the Simao-Xiaomengyang Expressway where visitors can observe wild elephants. A dedicated viewing platform has been set up here. If you wait here at night, you might catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures foraging in the wild.