Here are photographs from a trip to Bama in Spring. The old tea trees in Banma are noteworthy for their size; because of the way they have been managed, the trees are deceptively small.

Banma is a Lahu village. This group is quite isolated, having little interaction with others on the mountain.

Some Aini people from other parts of Nan Nuo Shan also have tea trees in the Banma area.

 

Click here to see a map of Xishuangbanna Prefecture.

Ban Ma on Nan Nuo Shan, Spring 2011.

House on the way to ban ma in nan nuo shan.
Ancient tea trees in Ban Ma. Because of the way the tea trees have been managed they are quite small, most standing no more than a meter high. Lahu woman picking tea from ancient trees in Ban Ma
Ban Ma's ancient tea trees are quite distinct and different from trees on other parts of Nan Nuo Shan
Ban Ma Village. This is a Lahu village as distinct from the rest of Nan Nuo Shan which is Aini. The village is quite poor.
Flowers in the village- Ban Ma Another view of the village. Lahu woman with child and water buffalo.