Xishuangbanna + Kunming, 8-Day Family Tour

Number of days：8 days
Time: July
Average cost: 7,000 yuan
With whom：parents and children
Updated: 2022.08.13

Introduction

This trip was actually quite sudden. My company has five days of parental leave, which I had to take before my baby turned three. It would have been a shame to spend such precious time at home. My parenting philosophy has always been: studying hard doesn't guarantee admission to Tsinghua University, and getting into Tsinghua doesn't guarantee a successful career. Don't gamble today's happiness on tomorrow's future. Study for nothing! Have fun first!

So, the trip could only take place in early August. I had three destinations in mind: Harbin (to see the Big Brain Axe), Qingdao (to eat seafood and drink beer), and Yunnan (to see elephants). Harbin had a comfortable temperature that month, but I ruthlessly declined. The hotels in Qingdao were incredibly expensive, and my wallet refused. In the end, Yunnan was the choice. Since my baby loves animals, the itinerary focused primarily on animal viewing, ultimately settling on Xishuangbanna and Kunming.

We booked our flights and hotel about a month before our departure, and the prices were reasonable. However, just two weeks after booking, I saw online reports that Banna was overwhelmed by the sheer number of summer tourists. First, there was a city-wide power outage, and then taxi lines lasted at least half an hour. After all, we were traveling with a baby, so I was a bit nervous. Fortunately, the trip went smoothly, and we even avoided a two-day water outage the day after our departure.

Best Time to Travel

Yunnan's rainy season generally runs from May to October, with June to August accounting for about 60% of the annual rainfall. We were right in the middle of rainy season...and Banna is nestled in a tropical rainforest, so it's hot and humid.

How to Get There

Xishuangbanna is located in the southernmost tip of Yunnan Province. The most convenient way to get there is by plane. Direct flights are expensive, but if you're departing from Beijing, you can transfer in Kunming or Chengdu for much cheaper flights. Another economical option is to take the high-speed rail from Kunming. I heard the Kunming-Banna high-speed rail line only opened last year. The journey takes about four hours and costs just over two hundred yuan. We chose a route from Beijing to Kunming, with a one-hour stopover before flying to Banna. The timing was quite good, and Yunnan's overall epidemic prevention inspections were very efficient.

Airport Transportation

1. If you're staying in Gaozhuang, most hotels offer free airport pickup. The B&B we chose also offers free pickup, but don't forget to reserve a timetable a day in advance.

2. Taxi: Take a taxi directly to the city center for around 30 yuan.

Hotel Accommodation

1. Gaozhuang: As a tourist attraction, prices are a bit high, and nearby dining, shopping, and entertainment are also quite expensive. However, there's a tourist bus stop at the north gate of Gaozhuang, making it convenient. Most of the popular online restaurants are also concentrated in Gaozhuang, making dining quite convenient.

2. Splashing Water Square: Moderately priced, with a riverside night market nearby, it's a great value. Located in the city center, it's convenient for local eateries.

Intra-city Transportation

"Banna Travel" Tour Bus: Orders can be placed four days in advance using the "Banna Travel" app. Currently, three routes are available: Wild Elephant Valley, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, and the Tropical Forest Park. The boarding point is at the north gate of Gaozhuang, making it very convenient for those who don't rent or charter a car.

Bus Stations: There are three bus stations here: Xishuangbanna Bus Station (also known as the Tire Retreading Factory Bus Station by locals, as it seems to have the most buses), Jinghong Bus Station (near the Farmers' Market), and Jinghong South Bus Station (near Manting Park). Most scenic spots in Banna are accessible by shuttle bus, with Banna Bus Station having the most shuttle buses passing through the various scenic spots. We took a bus from here to Menglun, the Tropical Botanical Garden.

Chartered Car: The daily cost is around 200 to 300 RMB, which is suitable for young people and very cost-effective for visiting two or three scenic spots in one day.

Didi: Before leaving, I saw many videos saying that the local area is overloaded during the summer, with taxi queues starting at half an hour. We were pretty lucky. The only time it's difficult to get a taxi is during peak hours in the evening. If you go out early in the morning, you can get a taxi in seconds.

Taxi: Regular taxis here are mostly metered, and if you're in the city, the fare is generally no more than 20 or 30 yuan. Also, after chatting with the drivers, I learned that most taxis here aren't connected to online ride-hailing apps, so if you can't get a Didi taxi, you don't have to pay extra. It's very convenient to just hail a taxi.

Car rental: We had considered renting a car to make it more convenient for us to go out with our kids. Later, I read online about the drawbacks of car rentals and even some "black industry chains," so I decisively declined. First, although there are parking lots at various local attractions, on the one hand, there might be long waits in line, and on the other hand, if they're full, you'd have to find street parking on your own, which is not very safe. Also, tire repairs are said to be quite expensive and prone to punctures. Although I've only heard about it, we don't have the time or energy to try it with our kids. If you choose to rent a car, it's best to clarify the situation with the rental customer service.

Day 1: Depart from Beijing, transfer in Kunming, and arrive in Xishuangbanna

Beijing Daxing International Airport:

Arrived at the airport at 12:30 PM. Check-in and baggage check-in were very efficient. We had lunch in the China Eastern Airlines VIP lounge. During the epidemic, Daxing Airport only had one China Eastern Airlines VIP lounge open, and the food was boxed and tasted average, but fortunately it was free.

I should state in advance that we are not a wealthy family. Many bank cards can be redeemed for free at the airport lounge, so you can give it a try.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Daxing Beijing New Airport Area

There's also a baby lounge at Daxing Airport, with toys and cots for babies to sleep in.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Daxing Beijing New Airport Area

Take off at 4:30 PM. I pre-ordered a children's meal from China Eastern Airlines' official website for dinner. The cold meal included a cute little bear bread, and the hot meal was tomato-flavored pasta.

All major airlines offer special meals for pre-order, including baby meals, children's meals, halal meals, vegetarian meals, and more. These can generally be booked on the airlines' official websites.

The layover in Kunming was 1.5 hours, and there was no need to pick up luggage. Upon landing, the Yunnan health code and Beijing accounting report were required to be checked, which was quite efficient.

Kunming Airport also has a smoking area, which seems to be rare in China these days. Kunming is definitely a favorite among heavy smokers.

Landed in Banna at 10:25 PM and took the nucleic acid test at the airport—scan the QR code on the WeChat mini-program to fill in the information. No ID required, which was very efficient. Afterward, I left the airport directly without having to wait for the results.

I booked a free airport pick-up from my homestay in advance. The journey from the airport to my homestay in Gaozhuang took about half an hour.

Staying at Fengweizhu Inn, the owner prepared a local flower cake as a welcome gift for my baby. Upon check-in, they even uploaded my baby's photo to the public security system to prevent abduction and trafficking. This was a really nice touch. Because the trip was quite demanding, I didn't have time to take any pictures, so I won't post any. Let's start with the positives: the room was incredibly spacious, with two balconies, a massive bathroom, a king-size bed so large you could do somersaults, and a floor-standing air conditioner that kept it incredibly cool. It felt like more than 45 square meters. In short, everything was incredibly spacious. The service was excellent. The front desk, who seemed to be called Yuanbao, was incredibly considerate. They were so worried about mosquito bites that they even arranged for mosquito coils in the room before check-in. The owner also provided us with many local attractions and greeted us with a friendly greeting every day, making it feel like home after a trip. Of course, nothing is perfect, so let's move on to the negatives: the facilities are a bit dated. While the rooms are all wooden, they do look beautiful, but the floorboards can be quite noisy. Also, the balcony has sliding doors, so the soundproofing is quite poor, especially since there's a child in the shop downstairs who screams until 11 a.m. every day. But for this location and this price, it's truly exceptional value, far exceeding many hotels costing just 400 or 500 RMB. I suggest the owner address these minor issues, and hopefully things will get better in the future. Also, the milk tea shop across from the hotel is having a promotion, and the coffee and milk tea are both excellent. I tried them all three days I stayed there. src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Phoenix Tail Bamboo Inn src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Phoenix Tail Bamboo Inn src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Phoenix Tail Bamboo Inn

Day 2: Primitive Forest Park + Starlight Night Market

Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park:

8:30 AM alarm, 9:30 AM departure

Taking a taxi on AutoNavi Map cost 21 yuan. Surprisingly, there were no queues as rumored online. The ride took 15 minutes.

Entrance fee + electric car cost 100 yuan. Although I bought an e-ticket on China-TravelNote, I had to exchange the electric car ticket at the ticket office.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

The first stop is "Aini Village". There is a large suspension bridge. Cross the bridge to the Aini Village, where you can enjoy the Aini dance. On the second floor, you can see the clothes and daily necessities of the Aini people. After going out, you can enjoy the Nine Dragons Flying Waterfall song and dance performance.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

The second stop is "Tropical Rainforest Hiking". There is a big shop at the entrance selling some tourist souvenirs. The items are relatively expensive, a bag of dried qiugui is 20 yuan. Going inside is the monkey park, where there are more people than monkeys. There are some snacks at the exit stalls that can fill your stomach. The prices are not too expensive, starting from 20 to 30 yuan. The rainforest hiking mainly includes some climbing activities for children. Since the baby can't do it, we didn't participate.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

The third stop is "Peacock Villa", which is also the most distinctive landscape of the primeval forest park. The peacock release performance is once an hour. The singing and dancing are actually not very interesting, but the fountain feels quite spectacular. You can go in and feed the peacocks and take pictures for 20 yuan. I feel that feeding the peacocks is quite worth it. Children rarely see so many peacocks. Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

The fourth stop is the scenic area exit. The sightseeing bus is truly worth it. The distances between each attraction are quite long, and the few pedestrians you see along the way are like warriors. If you visit this place, you absolutely must take an electric car.

Overall, it's an average attraction, but fortunately it's close to the city.

Used AutoNavi Maps to hail a taxi back to Gaozhuang 18yuan, and the order was accepted instantly. The journey took 15 minutes.

Dinner at Dai Manor—an authentic Dai restaurant (ranked number one). I had originally gone for the fried bugs, but they were sold out. So, I bought a groupon for two, along with a stinky vegetable omelet, watermelon juice, and Laotian stout. It was pretty good. My baby loved the grilled fish, and the pilaf was also good, though you'll need to queue if it's crowded.

Xingguang Night Market:

After dinner, I wandered around the Xingguang Night Market. I bought an Ultraman figurine for 30 yuan and some dried fruit for 6 yuan/bag. It's true that all the businesses are run by people from other places. It's a bit like Beijing's Nanluoguxiang. The buyers and sellers are all from other places, and the goods are all from other places. In short, it feels like browsing Taobao.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Gaozhuang Xishuangjing/Xingguang Night Market

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Gaozhuang Xishuangjing / Xingguang Night Market

Day 3, Wild Elephant Valley

Wild Elephant Valley:

6:30 alarm, 8:00 departure

Tour bus 90 yuan "Banna Good Travel" mini program, tickets for two people 110 yuan from China-TravelNote

The bus departed promptly at 8:30 AM and arrived at 9:10 AM, a 40-minute journey. A guide provided a brief explanation on board. "Banna Travel" offers many tour bus routes, easily searchable on WeChat. Bookings are generally made four days in advance, making it very convenient for visiting more distant attractions. After entering the park, I planned to visit the Elephant Museum at the north gate while I still had some energy, but I was fooled and ended up taking a lot of unnecessary detours. Following the signs, I first arrived at the Rainforest Theater, which was essentially a song and dance performance. I watched it for two minutes and found it uninteresting. We continued on past the water lily pond, which blooms only a few times a day; the rest of the time, they remain closed. We were lucky. Then it was time to ascend the mountain. The climb was quite steep, with many steps and a kilometer-long path, taking almost an hour. The scenery along the way was beautiful, with mountains and water, and I felt it was better than at the Forest Park, but I didn't see any wild elephants. Finally, we arrived at the Elephant Museum at the north gate. There was a giant pit, several elephant specimens, and some bones, but it was small and uninteresting. To return to the South Gate, you can take the scenic area bus for 5 yuan, or take a taxi for 10 yuan, and then return to the South Gate and check your ticket again before entering. However, it is recommended that you do not come to the North Gate specifically to see the museum.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Wild Elephant Valley

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Wild Elephant Valley The Elephant School show started at 12:00 PM. We arrived early and chose second-row seats. Lunch for two was 148, and the coffee was 20, which was terrible. The elephant show consisted of spinning in circles, kicking a ball, and a beauty contest with three female audience members. The beauty contest was particularly awkward. Three women were picked on stage and the elephants were asked to choose the prettiest one. Those who weren't chosen probably went home and cried for three days, even though it was the elephants who chose... After the show, you can feed the elephants. Don't feed them at the entrance; go to the Elephant Restaurant. The staff there will make you feel your money is worth it. The elephant feeding fee is 20 or 80. The 20 is for four cucumbers, and we chose the 80 for a basket of carrots, bananas, and apples. We even got a few cucumbers at the end, so the 80 was a good value.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Wild Elephant Valley

Then there is the lizard garden, which is just a pit with two small monitor lizards, and the butterfly garden has a bunch of butterflies, and nothing else.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Wild Elephant Valley

In short, it was just average.

Taking a taxi back to Gaozhuang cost 90 yuan plus 18 yuan in tolls.

For dinner, we had Manfeilong Roast Chicken (an internet-famous roast chicken). It was extremely hot outdoors, the service was slow, and the service was poor. Internet celebrities must have their reasons for being internet celebrities, but I just didn't understand why they were so popular.

Day 4: Zongfo Temple + Manting Park + Riverside Night Market

Zongfo Temple + Manting Park:

Check out at 9:00 AM and change to hotel: Xishuangbanna Haoyu Oriental Hotel, located near Splashing Water Square. Heavy rain this morning delayed our plans.

Manting Park tickets are 40 yuan (available on the Yunnan Travel app).

At 10:30 AM, we'll first visit Zongfo Temple, the royal temple of the Dai King. Free entry. It was raining and there were very few people. The first floor was dim and the kids were a little scared. On the second floor, we happened to see a temple master giving a lecture, so we took the kids for a moment.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Manting Royal Garden

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Manting Imperial Garden

The back door of Zongfo Temple leads directly into Manting Park. This was the Dai King's imperial garden, opened to tourists only after liberation. There's a wealth of plants and fish in the lake. I brought some flower cakes to feed the fish. I recommend bringing some fish food. Because it rained, the animal show was canceled, so I didn't get to see it.

Elephant Shows: 10:30 AM, 2:50 PM, 4:30 PM

Parrot Shows: 9:50 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:40 PM

Lunch at Wan Tai Laos Iced Coffee (Manting Park Branch), another internet-famous spot. The salads were average, but the iced coffee was incredibly strong and delicious. The internet-famous perfumed coconut smoothie and pau ruta were also good.

I had a nucleic acid test at Splashing Water Square in the afternoon. It's very convenient here. When there are no tour buses, there are basically no people, so the efficiency is very high.

For dinner, a friend recommended the Ai Ni Beef Buffet. It was extremely hot. I think they had air conditioning, but it was even hotter inside than outside, and there was a queue, so I gave up. I went to the nearby Niu Mo Wang BBQ, which is right next to the nucleic acid test station. The taste was just average, just your average Korean BBQ.

Riverside Night Market:

It was very crowded, a bit like the Beijing New Year temple fair. There were indeed more locals than at the Xingguang Night Market, and the food was much cheaper there. Here, you can buy three boxes of fruit for 10 yuan, while at the Xingguang Night Market, you can buy one box for 10 yuan.

Day 5: Xishuangbanna Tropical Zoo + Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Xishuangbanna Tropical Zoo:

6:30 AM alarm, 9:00 AM check-out, luggage storage, and bread at the convenience store

Admission is 40 yuan, available on-site. Located inside the National Customs Park, it has a small entrance. Despite its small size, you can get up close and personal with almost all the animals, including lions, tigers, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, bears, and even the iconic elephant of Xishuangbanna. The Bird Park is home to many birds I can't name, as well as ostriches and peacocks. We spent a long time with each animal. And, truly, you can get up close and personal. There's a food vendor at the park entrance. The animals recognize the yellow buckets and will come to you when you see them. Almost all the animals can be fed. One tiger had a limp and looked quite pitiful. I hope the staff can treat it. I personally think the ticket prices and food are reasonable, considering it's a tourist destination. You can also bring your own carrot buns or something. Overall, the experience was quite novel, and compared to most zoos that strictly separate animals from humans, it was a different kind of fun. It ended at 10:00 AM, and I didn't see the 11:00 AM animal show.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Wildlife Park

Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences:

Tourist bus from Banna Passenger Station 23.5, departs at 11:20, 1.5h

Let’s talk about the transportation to the Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences separately. It is more than 70 kilometers away from the city. You can choose to charter a car or a tourist bus. Chartering a car costs three to four hundred yuan a day, but we were staying there so we didn’t consider chartering a car. Alternatively, there are two options for tourist buses: 1. The "Banna Travel" mini-program offers a one-day tour of the Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including round-trip bus and park entrance tickets; 2. Take the bus from the bus station. There are three long-distance bus stations in Banna: Banna Bus Station, Jinghong Bus Station, and Jinghong South Station. The bus from Banna Bus Station seems to run the most, with an average of one bus per hour. The final stop is Menglun Station. After getting off, cross the street and you'll find the main entrance to the Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Lunch at the Wanglian Hotel buffet, 60 yuan per person. It's simple, home-style cuisine with five or six dishes, simple and delicious.

Admission is included with your stay at the Wanglian Hotel. Contact the hotel in advance and go to window 6 at the ticket office to get a certificate. The hotel's electric car will then pick you up at the main entrance. The hotel's electric car can take guests to the park's main entrance and back entrance (the north gate of the suspension bridge), but if you want to visit the park, you still need to purchase a separate electric car ticket.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Electric cars cost 50 yuan to reach the west area. If you don't take an electric car, you'll have to walk a lot, and if you take one, you'll lose a lot of money. Anyway, you can't finish the whole tour without spending the money. But if you spend the money, it feels really not worth it...

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dinner at a small restaurant near the zebra crossing. The atmosphere was pleasant, the food was delicious, and best of all, it had air conditioning! I don't know if the locals here are more heat-tolerant, but finding an air-conditioned restaurant is really hard to come by. My kids are extremely sensitive to the heat, so an air-conditioned restaurant really saves us a lot of worry.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

We didn't take the night tour, but after dinner we took a short walk and saw two or three fireflies. We were really lucky. The kids might have been a little unaccustomed to the darkness, so they fell asleep after a few steps.

Day 6, Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences + Train to Kunming

Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences:

The alarm clock went off at 7:30. We were pressed for time today, so we needed to eat a big breakfast. The hotel breakfast was pretty standard, with everything you'd expect, eggs, milk, etc. The rice noodles were quite good. I called the bus station an hour before departure and checked out of the hotel at 9:00. I suddenly realized the bus station had lost the ticket I'd bought the day before, but they didn't make a fuss. I was really embarrassed. Incidentally, the locals in Banna are actually very nice and down-to-earth. They definitely wouldn't try to rip off tourists. As for those outsiders doing business there, there are good and bad.

9:30 The tour bus returned for 25, 2 hours.

11:00 I took a taxi from Jinghong Bus Station back to the hotel to pick up my luggage. I suddenly noticed a long line, but thankfully it wasn't long. Getting a taxi from the hotel to the train station was a complete failure. Gaode's fare was as high as 50, but there was no one available after half an hour. Finally, I hailed a legitimate taxi on the way and it paid 20. After chatting with the driver on the way, I realized that legitimate local taxis aren't actually connected to ride-hailing apps, so if you see a line with an online ride-hailing app and a fare increase, just hail one.

The VIP lounge at the train station was a bit of a bummer. Besides a couple of small snacks, there was nothing there. I think everyone should just wait in the waiting area.

Train ticket to Kunming was 200 yuan, 4 hours, departing at 1:27 PM, arriving at 4:50 PM.

Kunming:

It started raining right after arriving in Kunming. It was 20 degrees outside, so it finally cooled down.

Kaili City Hotel, Tower A, Yuntong Times Square, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming

Because it was in the city center and it happened to be Friday evening rush hour, the subway was much faster than a taxi. It was only two subway stops, and a 20-minute walk after getting off was quite convenient.

Dinner at Nanqiang Night Market, Yunping Flavor Garden (must-eat list), canned pig brain, canned pork intestines, canned stinky tofu rice noodles, fresh milk rice, Vietnamese spring rolls, and coated tofu, all tasted good. All the dishes were served in small cans, which felt very unique. Yunping Flavor Garden (Huguo Road Branch) src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Yunping Flavor Garden (Huguo Road Branch) src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Yunping Flavor Garden (Huguo Road Branch) src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Yunping Flavor Garden (Huguo Road Branch)

Buy fruit on the roadside. Tropical fruits are super sweet and inexpensive, while temperate fruits are very expensive (watermelon is 8 yuan per pound).

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Nanqiang Streets and Alleys

Day 7, Kunming Zoo + Guandu Ancient Town

Kunming Zoo:

7:00 alarm, 9:00 departure, taxi 15 Gaode, entrance fee 20 on-site, snake park 10 on-site.

A half-day tour is enough. The park is small, there are not many animals, and the secondary consumption inside is a bit disgusting. Almost everything is charged. Although the fees are not high, it still feels a bit awkward. It feels like a large park within a small park. The charging for taking pictures is a bit like the Beijing Zoo 30 years ago.

Lunch at Yunqian Yixian (Yunnan rice noodles), right at the zoo entrance. The taste was okay, and it seemed to be a long-established restaurant. There was a huge queue.

Guandu Ancient Town:

I took a 50-yuan Gaode taxi. My baby fell asleep on the way. There was a Go-themed cafe just after entering the South Gate. I bought a cup of coffee and sat for a while while waiting for my child to wake up before continuing to explore. I didn't expect the service to be so bad! The taste was just average, but the service was rubbish! The child was asleep, so we bought a cup of coffee and sat outside. There were no other tables outside at the time, and after we finished our coffee, they actually told us to leave! The excuse was that we had to spend money inside the store. I said, "Look, we did spend money. We finished our coffee, so we have to leave immediately after we finish it, right? They're like gods when you're spending money, but treat you like a grandson after you're done!" What a shame! After the child woke up, I wandered around the ancient town. It was similar to Nanluoguxiang. The people buying and selling things were all from other places. There was nothing real, just tourists. It's a nice place, but it's a shame. If they had more local, time-honored Yunnan restaurants, it would definitely have a better reputation.

src="/travelogue/China/Yunnan/4072840/52.webp">Guandu Ancient Town

Day 8, PCR Test + Return Home

PCR Test:

There's a free PCR test at the northwest corner of Jinbi Square, but the efficiency is very low, with an hour-long queue. The first four PCR tests during my time in Yunnan were extremely smooth and efficient, but the last one was indeed a bit too slow. If you're in a hurry, I suggest going to another nearby PCR test site.