Live Your Best Lives
Xishuangbanna, this mysterious and colorful border town in Yunnan, I visited twice in two months. It has a unique Southeast Asian style and warm and comfortable weather all year round. You can experience the exotic customs without leaving the country. It is simply a holiday paradise.
1. [Best Travel Season] November to May: The dry season, with cool weather. April also sees the Water Splashing Festival. June to October: The rainy season, with higher temperatures. Personally, I think Xishuangbanna is worth visiting year-round, but the climate is more comfortable from November to May.
2. Transportation in Xishuangbanna
Option 1: Fly to Kunming. From Kunming, take the train to Xishuangbanna. Direct flights to Kunming are much cheaper than direct flights to Banna from many locations, but they require a combination of flight and train, which takes longer.
Option 2: Fly directly to Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport. This saves time, but round-trip airfare is slightly more expensive than option 1.
3. Basic Pre-trip Preparations
Clothing: Summer clothes + light autumn clothing for cool mornings and evenings, and warm midday. A sun hat and other essentials are available. You can wear a variety of colorful long skirts or ethnic costumes, depending on your personal preference.
Daily Use: Skincare, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent are essential.
Medications: Gastrointestinal medication, antidiarrheal medication, and Huoxiang Zhengqi water are essential. Local pharmacies sell these medications, so bring them with you for safety.
The following itinerary is flexible and can be arranged based on personal preferences:
D1 Direct flight from Shanghai, afternoon stroll around Gaozhuang West, evening Xingguang Night Market, Accommodation: Gaozhuang West
D2 Wake up naturally, visit Manting Park and Zongfo Temple (can take travel photos), Accommodation: Gaozhuang West
D3 Rent a Snoopy electric car to visit Gaozhuang West, spend the afternoon in the primeval forest, stay at InterContinental Xishuangbanna
D4 You can take photos at the hotel, take a taxi to Anantara Resort in the afternoon, stay at Anantara Resort
D5 One day at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, stay at Gaozhuang West or other high-end hotels in the city (such as Mandarin or Sunac, depending on your budget)
D6 Free time to arrange your stay (you can stay in a hotel, stay in the Wild Elephant Valley or other attractions you are interested in), fly to Shanghai in the evening
The above itinerary includes both ordinary hotels in Gaozhuang West Scenic Area for convenient transportation and 2-3 luxury resort hotels.
I went to Xishuangbanna twice and experienced four travel photography sets:
l Internet celebrity Dai costumes and Internet celebrity Hani: Shooting time: Night view Shooting location: Starlight Night Market
l Traditional Dai costumes: Shooting time: Daytime Shooting location: Manting Park
l Hotel travel photography: Shooting time: Daytime Shooting location: InterContinental Xishuangbanna
The following is a summary of four travel photography experiences. These are my personal opinions and are for reference only:
l I didn't find any disappointments; the style of travel photography depends on personal preference.
l I recommend "Goodbye Gaizhuang" for travel photography. I chose this company for the first three experiences. Each photoshoot took about 2 hours: 1 hour for makeup and styling, and 0.5-1 hour for photography. The package includes: clothing, makeup, photography, post-production retouching, and film. It's all-inclusive, with no hidden fees.
l Recommended daytime travel photography locations: Gaozhuang West, Dai Township Water Town (Manting Park is not recommended as it's too crowded)
l Nighttime travel photography: There are too many people, and after experiencing two sets, I don't recommend going there, but if you're determined, you should still follow your heart.
l Hotel travel photography locations: InterContinental Xishuangbanna, Mandarin Oriental Resort Hotel
The Starlight Night Market travel photography brought a lot of traffic and exposure to Xishuangbanna, attracting many tourists to Xishuangbanna to act as a "Dai" for their "Concubine"!
At that time, I couldn't help but experience what is locally known as the "Dai Princess" series! I must emphasize that the outfits used for this travel shoot are definitely not traditional Dai clothing. Personally, I think they're more of a blend of online celebrity Dai and Thai aesthetics, with the following characteristics: off-shoulder and backpack-friendly arms; vibrant colors; and crown-like headdresses. Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Banna, the night market was extremely crowded when I visited. The makeup and styling sessions were all done one-on-one, making the shoot effortless and efficient! The price is 399, a fantastic value!
Since I was so rushed to shoot the popular Dai costume, I also got to experience another popular Hani ethnic group photo shoot. First of all, I must emphasize that this is not traditional Hani clothing! This is simply a costume designed for photoshoots.
Costume: A modified Hani costume, inlaid with shiny silver sequins and traditional embroidery patterns, full of ethnic minority flavor.
Makeup: Clean and refreshing, with painted eyes and cheeks or some creative decorations, traditional Chinese elements, exquisite and cute. Price: 699!
Crowded with people, as the former imperial garden of the Dai king, while certainly ideal for portraits, it's also crowded. Just one photoshoot experience is enough. Dress in traditional Dai attire for an immersive Dai experience. Price: 999!
Our hotel package included a 15-second video and five free photos. The photographer was very responsible and filmed for 1.5 hours. The selection process was super fast, and we had the photos ready to go after two hours. We were so happy with the photos that we added a small fee for retouching. Instead of going to the crowded Gaozhuang and Manting Parks for travel photography, the InterContinental offers less crowds, beautiful scenery, and a professional photographer.
Gaozhuang West: If you're visiting for the first time, we recommend staying in Gaozhuang West. Otherwise, you'll need a taxi to visit the night market, which can be very difficult to find at night. It's convenient to various attractions, and crucially, it offers a one-stop shop for dining, entertainment, and fun, ensuring you won't be bored. A variety of guesthouses and B&Bs are available. Be sure to book in advance.
Other luxury hotels: If you have the budget, we recommend the InterContinental Xishuangbanna, Anantara Resort, and Wanda Cultural Resort Hotel.
Don't Think of the Elephant
Location: Gaozhuang West Scenic Area
A truly unique name! This B&B is just a one-minute walk from the night market entrance. Nestled within the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, it offers sweeping views of Gaozhuang. As soon as you draw back the curtains, you'll see the Mekong River, the Starlight Night Market, the Shwedagon Pagoda, and the Peacock Tower (all iconic landmarks).
The rooms offer a generous amount of space, complete with voice control and a smart toilet. They also have a projector and a bathtub. A particularly thoughtful touch is that everything a girl might need (makeup remover, sunscreen, facial masks, etc.) is placed right by the elevator. Each room offers excellent value for money, surpassing even the best prices in the film.
InterContinental Xishuangbanna, Enjoy the Dai Style of Slow Living
The Thai palace-style lobby exudes a rich sense of ethnic charm, featuring a majestic pagoda, a vast tropical garden, a breakfast room with peacocks, temples, and rice paddies. The restaurant also features song and dance performances, giving it the feel of a Dai village. The sound of gurgling water lingers in your ears, and strolling through the rainforest gardens is a relaxing experience! The hotel also offers attentive butler service via WeChat, ensuring immediate response to any requests.
The hotel is ideal for photography, and the photos are excellent. The hotel package included a 15-second video and five free photos. The photographer was very helpful and took 1.5 hours to shoot. The selection process was super fast, and we had our photos ready to go within two hours. We were so satisfied with the photos that we added a small fee for retouching. Instead of traveling to crowded places like Gaozhuang and Manting Park for travel photography, the InterContinental offers less crowds, beautiful scenery, and professional photographers.
1. Known as Asia's largest night market, it's indeed bustling at night, with beautiful views. Locals say it's still crowded around 2 or 3 a.m. The snacks are a matter of taste; I personally find them a bit pricey and the taste just average. Remember to bargain when buying clothes and other items at the night market.
2. Xingguang Night Market has become incredibly popular due to its travel photography craze. The night market is overwhelmed with the diverse photographers. I have to admit, while the photos are beautiful, they're all a bit stereotypical.
4. There are few people in the Starlight Night Market during the day, so it is also a good place to take photos, and it has an exotic atmosphere.
Both the front of the Shwedagon Pagoda and the back inside the Starlight Night Market are very photogenic.
Manting Park is the royal garden of the Dai King. Strolling through the park, you can also feel the tranquility of the park environment and the unique Dai architecture and temples. Many tourists will come to the park wearing Dai costumes or internet-famous Dai costumes to take photos and check in.
Manting Park and Zongfo Temple are right next to each other. Exiting from the south side of Manting Park will take you to Zongfo Temple. No entrance fee is required here, but your ticket will need to be checked when returning to Manting Park. Remember to keep your ticket. No revealing clothing or short skirts are allowed inside Zongfo Temple. Staff at the entrance will check your attire and determine whether you are allowed in.
1. The area is divided into the East and West Districts. The West District is well-developed, offering beautiful scenery and electric carts, making for a relaxing stroll. The West District is less developed and is ideal for hiking in the pristine forest. Remember to bring mosquito repellent and wear long pants. Visiting both districts in one day can be quite strenuous.
2. The West District is also quite large, so we recommend taking an electric cart, though this depends on your stamina.
3. The area is quite far from downtown Jinghong, approximately an hour's drive. If you're staying in Jinghong and traveling on the same day, we recommend either driving yourself or chartering a car.
[Optional Attractions in Xishuangbanna] Wild Elephant Valley
1. Whether or not you can see wild elephants depends on your luck. According to locals, the chances of seeing one are higher in the morning. We didn't see any in the afternoon. After walking around the high-altitude wild elephant plank road, we took the cable car down.
2. It is recommended to wear long pants and take good sun protection and mosquito repellent measures.
[Xishuangbanna Optional Attractions] Primeval Forest
1. We recommend wearing long pants and sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
2. The overall scenic area is average, with the highlight being the flying over the jungle. We didn't try any of the activities, so we didn't have to take the electric car. The scenic area is actually not very large. The Peacock Flies Southeast performance was really average.
3. It takes 15-20 minutes by taxi to Gaozhuang. There are also buses or direct buses to the scenic area. As for the Dai Garden and the Big Buddha Temple, I didn't go there, so I can't comment on it.
l Thai Coconut Heavenly Fragrance. Six-Nation Cuisine
l Designer Restaurant
l Beit Lampo Lanmei Restaurant
l InterContinental Hotel Xishuangbanna Chinese Restaurant
l Abai Coffee
l Wan Tai
Thai Coconut Heavenly Fragrance. Six-Nation Cuisine
There are several branches within the Gaozhuang West Scenic Area. We visited one and walked into a tropical courtyard, decorated with tropical plants and a fresh, natural decor. The lime lychee and breaded curry crab are must-trys. The lime lychee is so refreshing that you can't stop eating. The curry crab is a must-order for every table. It comes with two crabs, one male and one female, and the ingredients are quite fresh. The pineapple rice and green beans are average. This restaurant is ranked number one in local Thai food reviews and is considered an internet-famous restaurant. For an internet-famous restaurant, the food is quite good.
Yi Mengling and Zhao Lusi's favorites | A stunning internet-famous designer restaurant in Banna
This restaurant is incredibly stylish and must-take photos! It perfectly blends French romance with Thai charm! Surrounded by greenery and shaded by trees, it exudes a fresh, elegant atmosphere! Every corner is photogenic! No wonder it's become an internet-famous check-in spot. Zhao Lusi, Yi Mengling, and Li Xiaolu have all been here, so many fans check in. The Tom Yum Soup is incredibly fresh and generously prepared. The mango sticky rice, a visually appealing glutinous rice dish, is also a must-try! I was expecting the food to be less appealing in this designer restaurant, but it was a complete surprise.
Lan Mei Restaurant, Nakhon Sawan
I happened to pass by this restaurant and was captivated by the view (the Mekong River is in the background). It has two floors!
The variety of dishes is pretty good. I ordered the set meal for 158 (which is more than enough for four or five people). Their signature dishes are the curry shrimp and crab and the tom yum soup. The coconut smoothie is a must! The service is also quite good, and the food is served quickly!
Abai Coffee
While strolling through Jinglanzhai, I immediately thought this shop was so beautiful I couldn't resist snapping a few photos! The second time I passed by, I couldn't resist, even though I was already feeling nauseous after drinking coffee. The shop's interior and exterior are both thoughtfully designed. The bar at the entrance is stylish, and to the left, there's a fireplace and sofas creating a laid-back American vibe. The displays on the shelves tell a story of different experiences! Sitting at the outdoor tables, surrounded by greenery, is a real treat!
Fruit, all kinds of fruit.
Number of days：6 days, Average cost: 5,000 yuan, Updated: 2025.01.23
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 2700 yuan, Updated: 2024.08.13
Number of days: 5 days, Average cost: 4200 yuan, Updated: 2021.10.30
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 2000 yuan, Updated: 2024.10.04
Number of days: 6 days, Average cost: 1680 yuan, Updated: 2020.07.26
Number of days: 4 days, Average cost: 1,000 yuan, Updated: 2023.03.23
