There's always a holiday in Xishuangbanna! Beautiful scenery! Delicious food! Beautiful women! Xishuangbanna has it all

Number of days：5 days
Time: April
Average cost: 1600 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2022.09.09

“Welcome to Xishuangbanna”

Since Southeast Asia isn't an option for the time being, let's head to Xishuangbanna, the southernmost tip of Yunnan! As soon as I stepped off the plane, the city's architecture transported me to Thailand. Tracing back to their roots, I discovered they're all Tai-Tai. We love Banna so much! It felt so mysterious and exciting, and I began my Banna trip with a sense of anticipation.

This place, located in the southwestern border of China, a place I often heard about as a child, with its rich Dai customs and mysterious tropical rainforest scenery, filled me with curiosity and yearning.

The Lancang River, the mother river of Xishuangbanna, is 4,909 kilometers long and originates from the Tanggula Mountains in Qinghai, China. It is the largest international river in Southeast Asia, and flows into the Pacific Ocean through Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is known as the Danube of the East, and people in Southeast Asia call it the "Mekong River."

Xishuangbanna

As a popular filming location for variety shows such as "Running Man", "Where Are We Going, Dad", and "Wife's Travel", Xishuangbanna is the best choice for winter travel.

Today I have compiled some practical travel guides for Xishuangbanna without any pitfalls.

1. North Route

Wild Elephant Valley, Jinuo Mountain Village, Primeval Forest Park

2. Urban Area

Manting Park, Zongfo Temple, Mengle Grand Buddha Temple, Sunac Theme Park, Dai Garden

3. East Route

Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dai Garden, Parashorea chinensis, Mohan Port

4. Southwest Route

Dushuchenglin, Mengjinglai, Daluo Port

5. Northwest Route

Nannuo Mountain, Wengji Ancient Village, Jingmai Mountain

Here I found a panoramic map of Xishuangbanna for you, which can be divided into 5 routes (you can save this map in case you need it)

DAY 1: Gaozhuang, Xishuangbanna + Liuguo Floating Market, Starlight Night Market

Southeast Asia's Largest Night Market - Gaozhuang

This largest night market in Southeast Asia is located in Yunnan, my country, on the banks of the Lancang River.

When night falls, this place transforms into a dazzling starlit street market, leaving you mesmerized. This is Gaozhuang's Starlight Night Market.

Under the Great Pyramid, by the Lancang River, this is a must-see. Every night view is a perfect photo opportunity. Sunset is around 7:30 to 8:00 PM. Along the Lancang River, various barbecues, delicacies, and accessories are more like a Thai night market.

To truly understand a city, you must first try its local specialties. Only then can you fully experience the city's ambiance. This is a city of foodies you'll fall in love with.

Whether you've tried it or not, the tropical fruits here will definitely make you salivate. Miracle fruit, sugar apple, jackfruit, pineapple, citron, passion fruit, egg fruit, tamarillo... choose your favorite and don't miss it.

Xishuangbanna Many tropical fruits in Xishuangbanna are sour. "Pounding" is the way the locals make full use of various spices. If you are also a fan of sour and spicy taste, you must try the pounded chicken feet. The taste of spring rice noodles is amazing.

Xishuangbanna Since Banna is known as Little Thailand, Thai milk tea is a must. I have tried milk tea from various brands, but only Thai milk tea has touched my heart. The flavor is simply the aroma of milk and tea, paired with condensed milk for a perfect combination with no additives. Kids will love it too!

Whether you've tried it before or not, this tropical fruit will definitely make your mouth water. Miracle fruit, sugar apple, jackfruit, pineapple, citron, passion fruit, egg fruit, tamarillo... pick your favorite and don't miss it.

One of the must-try drinks in Xishuangbanna! Paoruda – Made with coconut milk, shredded coconut, and sago, this Burmese dessert is a popular summer treat.

Sweet pineapple rice

In Yunnan, everything can be eaten cold

Xishuangbanna Cold mango salad, have you tried it?

As we all know, fruits in the south are bought cut up, and you can eat multiple fruits together

Xishuangbanna Fruit Platter

My first impression of Xishuangbanna was the Peacock Kingdom. How could anything compare to a Peacock Feast? Nothing else matters, just the beauty. From the first day to the last, I never tire of it. Glutinous rice, yellow rice, tropical fruits, grilled meat and fish, pounded vegetables, sour soup, fried pork skin... you have to wear gloves to eat it!

Dai-style barbecue is arguably the epitome of Yunnan barbecue culture. Bamboo and banana leaves replace tin foil. Seasoned with tropical spices like lemongrass and cilantro, it's miles ahead of other barbecue options. Breast fat, pig cheeks, pig curds, pig gums… these ingredients you've never tasted before make you feel like you've just seen the world.

After eating and shopping, are you ready to head back to the hotel to rest? That would be a shame to miss out on the beautiful night view of Gaozhuang. So what should we do? Take photos! It would be a complete waste of time to come to Banna if we don't wear Dai clothing at least once. Are only women allowed to take photos? You're wrong! Dai clothing shops are everywhere in Gaozhuang, catering to all ages and genders. You can buy your own or rent. They're staffed by professional makeup artists, and prices range from 199 to 399, depending on your preference. After the photoshoot, the photographer will choose yours, then retouch it, leaving you with stunning photos that will dazzle your friends. Promise me, you'll definitely take a photoshoot when you visit Xishuangbanna!

DAY 2: Close encounters with wild elephants in the Wild Elephant Valley and exploring the primeval forest

Xishuangbanna is the only habitat of Asian elephants in China. To see wild Asian elephants in China, you must go to Xishuangbanna. And to see wild elephants in Xishuangbanna, you must visit the Wild Elephant Valley.

➡Ticket price for the Wild Elephant Valley is 60 yuan per person️

The Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley is located within the Mengyangzi Nature Reserve, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, and is 22 kilometers from Jinghong City. It is China's first national park dedicated to animal and environmental protection.

Archaeological discoveries confirm that Asian elephants were once widely distributed throughout the Yangtze River Basin, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou regions, and even as far north as the Yellow River Basin. Due to the harsh climate and geographical environment, Asian elephants were forced to migrate south. Xishuangbanna is the only habitat of Asian elephants in China. The Wild Elephant Valley, located at the junction of the eastern and western areas of the Mengyang Nature Reserve, serves as a central channel for the communication and convergence of wild Asian elephants living in the two areas.

The Wild Elephant Valley offers a variety of attractions, including a high-altitude elephant viewing platform, a rainforest cableway, an Asian Elephant Museum, an Asian Elephant Breeding Base, and an Asian Elephant Performing School. These attractions allow visitors to safely observe wild Asian elephants and their environment without disturbing them. This makes it the only place in China where visitors can interact closely with wild Asian elephants, earning it the nickname "the bridge connecting humans and wild Asian elephants."

The first step in visiting the Wild Elephant Valley is to watch an elephant show! The image above shows an introduction to the performing elephants. You can ride an elephant here.

Wild Elephant Valley

Wild Elephant Valley Let's jump rope together

After watching the elephant show, we visited other areas of the park, where there are some animals, such as pythons, roe deer, etc., and there is also a butterfly garden with many butterflies flying.

After dinner, we experienced feeding Asian elephants up close. The elephants here are very smart and have big appetites. There are some stalls in the park selling 2D and 3D popsicles from Wild Elephant Valley. The taste is very average, but they look very cute. It’s still great for posing for photos!

The chance of seeing untamed wild elephants in the Wild Elephant Valley is only about 20%. It's a lucky thing to see one, but it doesn't matter if you don't. It's also good to learn some knowledge about Asian wild elephants.

After seeing the elephants, it's time to visit the Primeval Forest Park.

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park, located east of Jinghong and north of the Lancang River, is 8 kilometers from the prefecture's capital and is the closest primeval forest to Jinghong City. The park, built on 25,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of tropical valley rainforest, boasts a forest coverage rate exceeding 98%, creating a natural oxygen bar. The park boasts valley rainforest, dancing peacocks, folk songs and dances, delicious cuisine, and a water splashing carnival, making it one of Xishuangbanna's largest comprehensive ecotourism attractions.

The fashionable lifestyle concept, centered around nature, ecology, environmental protection, leisure, and health, is embodied through the National New Year Culture Season in winter, the Peacock Culture Season in spring, the Rainforest Culture Season in summer, and the National Costume Season in autumn.

For those who are short on time or physically challenged by the Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park tour guide, it is recommended to take the scenic area's electric vehicle to and from various attractions.

Before the peacocks were released, a performance of ethnic songs and dances took place. The background fountains and smoke added to the stage atmosphere. DAY 3: Enjoy a magical day at Manting Park and Mengle Grand Buddha Temple. Manting Park is a natural village-style park, formerly the imperial garden of the Dai king, with a history of over 1,300 years. The scenic area embodies three key themes: Dai royal culture, Buddhist culture, and Dai folk culture. Manting Park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna. The Dai people call it "Chunhuan," meaning "Garden of the Soul." It was once the imperial garden of the Dai king of Xishuangbanna. Legend has it that when a Dai princess visited, the beautiful scenery here attracted her soul, hence the name.

Mengle Grand Buddha Temple

The Xishuangbanna Mengle Grand Buddha Temple is located on Nanlian Mountain between the end of Highway 1 in the Jinghong City Resort Area in Xishuangbanna. It covers an area of 650 mu, with a construction area of 24,000 square meters and a total investment of approximately 200 million yuan. It was built in accordance with the national AAAAA-level scenic spot standards. The scenic spot focuses on promoting "Theravada Buddhist culture" and inherits traditional culture with modern methods to meet the needs of modern tourists to appreciate and experience history, Buddhist culture, and regional culture. The planning outline of the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple is cleverly combined with the natural original landform. It is in the shape of a sitting Buddha and is unique in China. The temple construction project is one of Xishuangbanna's key tourism and cultural development projects, identified by the Yunnan Provincial Government at an on-site office meeting. It is a landmark tourist attraction for Xishuangbanna's tourism resurgence. Construction began in 2005, and after more than two years of construction, it has begun to take shape. Currently, the first phase of civil construction for the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple is complete, and decoration work for the main hall, side halls, Buddhist college, elders' shrine, and Siddhartha Square is essentially complete. Following the consecration ceremony, the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple will be gradually opened to visitors, providing Xishuangbanna with a new cultural attraction.

DAY 4: Experience a unique Dai village + enjoy water splashing in the Dai Garden - Golden Triangle Speedboat Tour

Experience the stilt-style bamboo houses of the Dai people, the dominant ethnic group in Xishuangbanna, and learn about their daily life and their secrets to longevity and weight loss. Feel the warmth of the Dai people!