Live Your Best Lives
In this era of epidemics, being able to travel smoothly is already a blessing and a lucky thing.
After nearly two months of planning, my trip to Qingdao and Dalian was aborted due to the sudden outbreak of epidemics in both cities two weeks before the trip. This truly proves how true the saying "plans cannot keep up with changes" is.
Looking across China, there are very few destinations to visit. With no other options, I felt a bit helpless, but I had to pull out Plan B. Yes, Plan B was a second trip to Yunnan.
My trip to Yunnan at the end of last year left a very deep impression on me. My plan to visit Yunnan again in April this year was also delayed due to the epidemic. The plan, which had been postponed to this winter, was also brought forward to September due to the back-to-back epidemics in Qingdao and Dalian. After all, Yunnan is one of the last remaining untouched areas in China untouched by the epidemic.
Due to the sudden change of our final destination to Yunnan, our itinerary was completely blank ten days before departure. This would have been impossible for me on previous trips, so we had to scramble to complete all our travel plans and flight and hotel reservations within a week. This was an unprecedented experience.
In the days leading up to departure, we were also worried about the impact of a typhoon. Fortunately, the typhoon left the day before departure, allowing us to take off smoothly on the day of departure. Thanks to the perfect timing, location, and people, this trip was a success.
[Journey Begins]
It was September 17th again. Perhaps because the day before departure was incredibly busy, coupled with the uncertainty about the future, my excitement, which should have kept me awake, was offset by a sense of calm. That night, I was able to get a good night's sleep for the first time before a trip.
We arrived safely at Hongqiao Airport around 6:30 AM. The last time I was there was last year.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the terminal, I prayed sincerely at the blue sky outside, hoping that the next two weeks will be smooth sailing~
Sitting on the plane, looking at the white clouds floating outside the window, my mood is slowly switching to travel mode. So, right now, I should be excited and screaming, right?
Beneath the white clouds is our destination: Xishuangbanna.
During this 14-day journey, Xishuangbanna undoubtedly represents summer among the four seasons.
After a layover, the plane has arrived over Jinghong City and is about to land.
The tropical weather is indeed unpredictable. One moment it was blue sky and white clouds, and the next it was raining. I have to thank the hotel for its airport pick-up service, which saved me from a shaky landing.
After careful selection, we finally decided to stay at the Yunzhu Noah Riverview Resort Hotel. The hotel is located in Gaozhuang Xishuangjing, with very convenient transportation. At the same time, as a new hotel opening in 2022, the hardware and software facilities are naturally needless to say.
The hotel staff escorted me to the door of my room. After opening the door, I fell in love with the light luxury decoration style and spacious space in an instant. The biggest highlight of the hotel is the infinity pool on the first floor, which is also a very photogenic place.
The sky has returned to its blue sky and white clouds. The picture of the hotel and its reflection on the water is really a must-see~
As the sun sets, the sunlight casts a golden hue over the area, creating a picturesque scene.
In the evening, you can see the beautiful sunset in front of the swimming pool.
At night, the scenery here is completely different.
The hotel's exterior is simple yet stylish.
From the window of the room, you can overlook the Mekong River and the scenery on both sides.
As night falls, the surface of the Mekong River is dyed with the colors of the sunset.
In the afternoon, when there are no pedestrians, the western sky is so quiet that it seems as if time has stood still.
Come to the first-floor lobby of the hotel, which is also where breakfast is served.
Sitting in front of the sofa, you can quietly watch the sunset until the sun sets.
There is also a terrace on the top floor of the hotel, from where you can overlook the scenery of Gaozhuang.
There is also a restaurant next to the hotel on the first floor, which is also full of atmosphere.
Walk out of the hotel and stroll through Gaozhuang Xishuangjing. If it weren't for the Chinese signs on the street, this place would be Thailand, full of Southeast Asian style.
Coming to the Mekong River, you can see speedboats speeding by.
Since you’re in Little Thailand, how can you not try authentic Thai food for dinner? If you want to talk about the most popular place in Gaozhuang, the famous Starlight Night Market is undoubtedly the most popular place.
If you want to talk about the most popular place in Gaozhuang, the famous Starlight Night Market is definitely the best.
This is the outer area of the night market. In the evening, various merchants have begun to set up their stalls.
Arriving at the core area of the Starlight Night Market, you can already feel the strong atmosphere of fireworks before nightfall~
Although the Mekong River is very quiet at this time, it will transform into a different look at night.
Night has fallen, and the Starlight Night Market has also ushered in its busiest time of the day. Only by being there can you feel the enthusiasm of the scene.
Walking into the core area of the Starlight Night Market, there are snack shops, small commodity shops, and everything you need. If you are tired of walking or have a craving for food, the roadside skewers are a very good choice.
If you are tired of walking or have a craving for food, the roadside skewers are a very good choice.
The Starlight Night Market has a huge flow of people, and conflicts are inevitable. At this time, the Jiangbei Police Station will tell you very clearly what to do.
A quiet riverside spot in the afternoon has now transformed into a popular gathering place.
The atmosphere created by the twinkling stars explains why this place is called the Starlight Night Market.
Wandering through the night market, a sign that reads "I'm waiting for you in Xishuangbanna" makes people stop in their tracks:
A moving singing voice came from the front, attracting everyone and stopping to appreciate the live performance of this bar lady.
Coming to the western section of Ganpai Street, the night market is equally bustling. It was late at night and it was almost 11pm when we got back to the hotel.
You need to get a good night’s sleep at this time, because the next day is the real beginning.
The Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the only 5A scenic spot in Xishuangbanna, is also a must-see place when visiting Banna.
I was originally debating between the primeval forest park and the park, but then I decided to save the latter for another time.
Given the scenic area's distance from the city and the inconvenient transportation, I signed up for a local group day tour. We departed from Gaozhuang just after 8:00 AM, and the journey took about an hour.
The only downside was the somewhat overcast morning weather, which meant I didn't feel like taking photos once we arrived at the botanical garden.
The first area we visited was the Victoria amazonica pond. Although the flowers had faded at this time of year, the leaves, which could support the weight of a child, still offered considerable viewing value.
Although the Victoria amazonica flowers haven't bloomed, the water lilies next to them are blooming beautifully~
The sky gradually opens up, and you can also experience the fun of riding a hot air balloon on the lawn inside the botanical garden.
At noon, the blue sky and white clouds returned, and the feeling of the tropical rainforest became more intense.
After lunch, our second stop was the Dai Garden.
The Dai Garden is made up of five of my country's best-preserved Dai natural villages and is one of the best places to showcase the local customs and people of Xishuangbanna.
The first village we visited was called Manchun Man. Compared to Gaozhuang in Little Thailand, this village has a stronger Thai atmosphere and allows you to experience the feeling of being abroad.
From the photos, does it look like the original Thai style?
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There is a white pagoda in the temple, where Dai people remember their ancestors by praying.
After the Thai-style tour, the most anticipated moment of speed and passion is about to begin:
I didn’t expect that there is such a different style in the Dai Garden. The legendary Golden Triangle, the intersection of China, Myanmar and Laos, and the filming location of the movie Operation Mekong, is right here, the border pier of the Dai Garden!
Without further ado, let's get on the master's speedboat and experience the thrill of speeding.
Each speedboat will have its own video record. This video was recorded by our speedboat master for us. Feel the thrill of speed and passion again!
The experienced speedboat drivers here all have military backgrounds and are incredibly skilled. One is even said to be Peng Yuyan's stunt double in a movie. And I have to say their driving skills are truly impressive. Their precise, swift movements, like a dragon's tail, were truly impressive. A young woman in the back row, eager for a bit of excitement, was quickly drenched, while everyone else escaped unscathed.
Back at the dock, the screaming experience of the previous half-hour was truly a must-do, unforgettable experience.
There's also a luxury yacht at the dock, also well worth a photo opportunity and a photo stop.
Across the Mekong River, a resort project twice the size of Gaozhuang Xishuangjing is reportedly under construction, and the project's landmark building is already taking shape.
After the thrill of speed and passion, you'll receive a commemorative badge, the perfect testament to your experience of a real-life Operation Mekong. After the speed and passion of the speedboat version, the next activity to experience is the most distinctive water splashing carnival in Dai culture:
Arriving at the water splashing square of the Dai Garden, the pre-performance of the water splashing carnival is about to begin. Before the official start, there is a welcoming ceremony:
Before the official start, there is a welcoming ceremony:
After the welcome ceremony, the tourists who wanted to participate in the water splashing carnival were already waiting in their seats, holding their basins and ready to jump in.
When the host announced the start of the water splashing carnival, the scene suddenly became lively~
Then, hundreds of people began to splash water, and the atmosphere was very lively!
After a short break, the host announced that the next person to be splashed with water would be a lucky tourist wearing designated colored clothing, and the second round of water splashing began.
As the old Dai saying goes, getting wet brings lifelong happiness. I wish all the tourists present a happy and fulfilling life.
After finishing our trip to the Dai Garden and returning to Gaozhuang, we visited another restaurant with a strong Thai atmosphere.
This street scene really gives me the feeling of being in a small alley in Thailand.
The restaurant is called Thai Xiangli, and the quality of the food is impeccable.
After dinner, we checked in at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Gaozhuang Scenic Area. Below the Shwedagon Pagoda is the popular Starlight Night Market. As one of the landmark buildings in Gaozhuang Scenic Area, the Shwedagon Pagoda can be seen in various places. There are also three miniature bell towers next to the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Another landmark building in Gaozhuang is naturally the Pineapple Hotel.
Looking from below, the pineapple feeling is more obvious. This hotel is also one of the popular check-in spots in Gaozhuang.
Pineapple Hotel at night
The entrance of Pineapple Hotel
Next time you visit Banna or Gaozhuang, consider staying at Pineapple Hotel.
Originally, due to time constraints, I hadn't planned to include Wild Elephant Valley in my itinerary. However, after hearing the recommendation from our tour guide on our way back the day before, I quickly booked a day trip there.
The day before, I had high expectations at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, and the gloomy weather had made the experience rather underwhelming. So, on the sunny third day, Wild Elephant Valley, also with its tropical rainforest scenery, seemed like a good choice to make up for the previous day's disappointment. The water lilies in the Wild Elephant Valley were also in full bloom. I also ran into some of my group members from the botanical garden the day before at the Wild Elephant Valley. It was a perfect coincidence.
Although it is almost impossible to encounter real wild elephants in this season, you can still have a close contact with the elephants in the park when you come to the Wild Elephant Valley, so the first stop in the Wild Elephant Valley is the Elephant School.
Welcome all the elephant students to meet everyone~
Assemble, stand at attention
First, please perform the circle dance for everyone
Then the elephant plays football.
A lucky audience member will be selected to act as the goalkeeper. Will the ball go in?
Next is Elephant and the staff jumping rope.
The most interesting part was the final scene where Mr. Elephant selected the school beauty. With those oversized glasses on, he really looked like a professor.
Three lucky tourists were also selected on the spot. Who will be the winner in the end?
Is it her? She seems to have received the lucky hat from Teacher Elephant~
Is it her? It seems she also received Teacher Elephant's lucky kiss~
In the end, Teacher Elephant chose this lucky girl as the school beauty, as evidenced by this bouquet:
Some people may say that they should refuse to watch animal performances, after all, they are a bit cruel. However, it should be noted that the elephants in the Wild Elephant Valley were abandoned by the elephant herd for various individual reasons. They were adopted and protected by the park before they were able to meet the public. Therefore, it can be said that these elephants also rely on their own skills to achieve a win-win situation for each other.
Let’s not worry about whether this is true or not for now, let’s just enjoy this wonderful moment of harmony between humans and animals~
Our second stop was the Butterfly Garden, where over 2,000 butterflies of various species fluttered about.
After lunch, we arrived at the third stop in the scenic area: elephant herding.
Actually, when I made the reservation, I had no idea what elephant herding meant. I just booked the package with the most included items. Later, I learned from the tour guide that elephant herding actually means walking an elephant. Even though I was ignorant, I still learned a new term.
Originally, the location of elephant herding was right next to the elephant school, but because the park restaurant and the park were booked by a large senior group that day, the tour guide immediately made a decision and negotiated with the scenic spot, allowing us to go to the north gate of the scenic spot to experience a more original elephant herding activity.
There were two elephants, one large and one small, led by the scenic area staff, and we followed them on a different journey:
In addition, the staff of the scenic spot also reminded that because the baby elephants are quite naughty, we should be careful not to follow too closely to avoid being accidentally injured.
Since elephant herding is carried out in the original forest, it is inevitable to climb up and down. Following the elephant, the group of people suddenly felt like they were studying in the West.
Finally arrived on a hillside in the virgin forest, where you can take photos with the elephants.
When it came to the feeding part, both the little brother and the elephant looked like they were enjoying themselves.
This foreign boy was feeding the elephant very smoothly. Suddenly, the baby elephant saw this and rushed over to snatch the carrot from the boy's hand.
The little brother who was suddenly at a loss certainly met the little elephant's request.
But after the feeding, the baby elephant was still unsatisfied, but the carrots were gone.
In addition to elephants and butterflies, there are other protected small animals in the Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Area.
There is also an Aviary in the scenic area, where there are parrots, peacocks and other birds.
Walking onto the wooden boardwalk in the scenic area, you can experience the feeling of traveling through the primeval forest.
There is a viewing platform on the plank road. Standing here, you can overlook the virgin forest under the blue sky and white clouds in front of you.
Looking up, even the clouds are in the shape of hearts.
The last stop in the Wild Elephant Valley is to watch the performance of the Wa compatriots in this small rainforest theater.
The performances with national characteristics on the stage are also a new visual experience that has never been enjoyed before.
After finishing the trip to Wild Elephant Valley, we quickly came to this famous Manting Park to check in.
As the former royal garden of the Dai king, Manting Park is similar in style to the Dai Garden, but it has more tropical rainforest elements.
Through the trees, there is a palace garden in front.
Every plant and tree here is neatly trimmed.
When you come to the Dai King's Palace, you can feel the customs and habits of the Dai royal family.
When we came to the small lake, the sky was like sapphire, so clear that there was no cloud.
The water lilies in the lake look even more exquisite and lovely against the setting sun.
When you come to the river, the lush tropical plants leave mottled tree shadows on the ground.
Going along the river, you can also see many Thai-style buildings.
Manting Park, in addition to being a very popular travel photography location, is also a very suitable place for wedding photos.
Passing a wedding photo shoot of a newlywed couple, I also used my camera to record their beautiful and happy moments.
Continue walking in the park
Through a path in the tropical rain forest, in front of the Zongfo Temple:
Come to the stone monument of Zongfo Temple to check in
The main Buddhist temple is also full of Thai style
Since the Zongfo Temple is located in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna, there are not many tourists in the temple, and everyone comes here to burn incense and worship Buddha.
Take a photo of the real gate of Zongfo Temple. Due to limited time, we can only leave first.
Go back to Gaozhuang Xishuangjing and come to the Mekong Jinglan Hotel, which is also another landmark building in the scenic area.
Looking from the side, the hotel's shape is very majestic and has national characteristics.
When the lights are bright at night, the night view of the hotel is also very beautiful.
Then hurry up and take a look inside the hotel~
Walking into the hotel, the lobby is spacious and bright, and the elephant sculpture in the middle is full of Dai elements.
There are many small flower beds decorated next to the elephant sculpture
I happened to meet the young ladies who were traveling to take photos here, and I also used my camera to record the beautiful moments for them.
The tour guide once said that in Xishuangbanna, everyone’s wish to be a Dai concubine can be greatly satisfied, because during the three days in Banna, young ladies wearing traditional ethnic costumes can be seen everywhere walking on the exotic streets, forming beautiful scenery .
Behind the hotel lobby is a quiet and comfortable rest area
Love the design style here, high-end and restrained coexist
The ceiling of the bar counter also has a sense of design
After finishing the visit to the Mekong River Jinglan Hotel, it was time to go to the last stop of the day's itinerary to watch the Dai nationality singing and dancing bonfire party.
The party originally planned to be held in Manting Park was booked by a big-spending star, so it had to be changed to watch another performance of the same type at the Naxi Grand Theater in Mengbala.
As we walked into the Grand Theater, the sun was setting and the sky was getting dark.
The steps leading to the second floor of the Grand Theater become more and more atmospheric under the gradually falling night.
The performance officially started. From the stage design to the costume modeling, every different scene was also done with great care. The whole performance was wonderful and impeccable.
I just didn’t expect that on the last night in Banna, I would also experience a test of inner suffering:
Because there was a case of suspected sheep-like fallout in the afternoon. Although it was finally confirmed to be negative, it was also confirmed to be a false alarm. However, in this blind box-like YQ era, every day seems to be spent in uncertainty. After all, you don’t know when this unfortunate blind box will fall on you.
However, when I wrote this travelogue, the epidemic in Banna was really going on. I had experienced similar feelings two weeks ago, so I can fully understand the mood of the tourists who are currently trapped in Gaozhuang. I hope everything is fine and the YQ in Banna can end soon.
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