2024 Xishuangbanna & Pu'er 10-day free travel in Jinghong

Number of days: 10 days
Time: January
Average cost: 7600 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2024.02.18

DAY1: Let's go somewhere with wind!

We set off today, had breakfast and lunch, and my daughter drove me to the high-speed rail station. I'm so lucky to have a driver now. I took the high-speed rail from Huzhou to Nanjing South Railway Station, then transferred to Metro Line S1. It's 7 stops directly to Nanjing Lukou Airport. The train station is quite a distance from the subway entrance, so you should leave enough time for walking and transferring. Maybe because the train runs every ten minutes, the subway is crowded, but the advantage is that you don't have to go through security, which saves you the trouble of carrying suitcases up and down. Today, Nanjing Lukou Airport is very empty, without any of the hustle and bustle of the Spring Festival travel rush. I completed the check-in and security check without queuing, and successfully met up with Congtou's family who arrived at the airport earlier.

Nanjing South Railway Station

Nanjing Lukou Airport

Taking a group photo upon departure is a standard action, and this trip became more interesting with the addition of these two little ones.

A group photo aside, our group of seven happily departed!

We took an Eastern Airlines direct flight from Nanjing to Xishuangbanna, which took about three and a half hours. The advantage was speed and time-saving, but the disadvantage was the price. In fact, our takeoff was delayed by about half an hour due to air traffic control. As we were about to land, the plane circled over Xishuangbanna for a long time due to bad weather, ultimately taking about four hours to arrive. There was a minor incident nearing arrival. During descent, the plane experienced severe turbulence as it passed through the turbulence. Many children on the plane screamed, and Qingqing was so nervous she couldn't open her eyes. As for me, it was quite thrilling! Hahahaha. In the end, the plane successfully passed through the turbulence and landed smoothly at the airport.

The sunset from the plane was stunning!

Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport is small, but it has a distinct Dai feel. It's 25 degrees Celsius outside at night, so it still feels a bit warm. People are wearing all sorts of clothes, but the temperature difference between morning and evening is quite significant, so it's a good idea to bring a jacket. After picking up our luggage, we met the driver sent by the B&B to pick us up. Unexpectedly, our first surprise upon arriving in Jinghong was traffic. Jinghong city was bustling at around 9 or 10 pm. What should have been a 20-minute drive took an hour, and the driver had to weave his way around to get here.

We stayed at the Lanjiangyuan Resort B&B in Building 2 of the Peacock Tower for all three nights in Jinghong. The three of us shared a luxurious suite, each with a 1.8-meter bed. With a room rate of over 500 per night in the heart of the city, we were all very satisfied. From the large balcony, we could see the bustling nightlife of Gaozhuang Xishuangjing. It's said the night market here runs until 3 or 4 in the morning. We were tired from traveling all day, so we didn't go out to explore. Time for a quickie!

Gaozhuang Night View

Lanjiangyuan Holiday B&B

DAY 2: Wandering around downtown Jinghong, taking photos at the Xingguang Night Market.

I slept in this morning, then got up rather late. Yesterday's forecast was for moderate rain, but today the sun came out. There's a breakfast shop across from the hotel, selling everything from steamed buns to fried dough sticks to porridge and rice noodles.

Breakfast Shop

Getting around here is a real challenge. Try calling a Didi taxi, and they'll often not show up. They might seem close, but traffic can actually take forever. Sometimes, even after adding over 100 yuan to the fare, there's still no sign of a car. So, if you're visiting during national holidays, it's best not to stay in Gaozhuang. The roads are narrow and overcrowded, making it difficult to get in or out. Remember this. In the end, we called three small tricycles, similar to Southeast Asian tuk-tuks, and sped along, weaving through alleyways until we arrived at Manting Royal Garden.

A tricycle is the most convenient.

Maybe it was winter break, but Manting Royal Garden was incredibly crowded with tourists. Admission was 40 yuan, with half price for those over 60 and students, and free for those under 1.2 years old. But when we returned, during the Spring Festival holiday, we saw so many people flocking to various attractions, and it was nothing to us now.

A bronze statue of Premier Zhou Enlai stands right at the entrance, a particularly vivid and lifelike image. Yunnan is a multi-ethnic province, so ethnic unity education is highly valued here. Banners and slogans promoting ethnic unity can be seen everywhere, and Manting Royal Garden even has a themed pavilion on ethnic unity.

President Zhou and Premier Zhou

This pomegranate seed is very interesting

Manting Royal Garden

Manting Royal Garden of Zongfo Temple

This is the royal garden of the Dai king. Although it is not big, it is exquisite. There is a release lake in the middle. Zongfo Temple is just outside the south gate. You can walk along the way, take in the sights, stroll and take photos, and feel free. After playing, it was time for dinner, so we found a nearby Dai-style restaurant and ordered a 350-yuan set meal. The food was delicious, and it was our first time eating Dai food, which was quite novel. However, we overestimated our ability to eat, and we couldn't finish the set meal. After lunch, we enjoyed some delicious Laotian iced coffee. After a break, we continued our afternoon visit to Mengle Grand Buddha Temple. Mr. Bao, who had picked us up at the airport the previous day, was very kind and came to pick us up and even bought our tickets, which were slightly cheaper than online. Dai cuisine Wild eggplants—adorable, aren't they? Laotian iced coffee is everywhere

Arriving at the Big Buddha Temple, we first walked to see the peacock release at 3 o'clock. In fact, there were only a few peacocks flying down from the top of the mountain, more like a flock of pheasants. It was not very interesting to watch, and the crowds made the experience even worse. It was really not worth it.

Peacock Release

There was also a performance at the nearby water splashing square, but we didn't want to watch it and walked straight to the battery car station to queue for the car. A one-way electric car ride to the summit costs 40 yuan and takes about four or five minutes. We recommend buying only the one-way ticket for the ascent, as taking the car both ways would negate the need for sightseeing. A magnificent, golden structure shimmers at the summit, creating a truly spectacular spectacle. The colorful lanterns in the pond are also a sight to behold. The golden pagoda against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds invites countless photo opportunities. Descending on foot, you'll see various temples nestled against the mountainside, including a giant, benevolent-looking golden Buddha.

Big Buddha Temple Golden Pagoda on the Top

Big Buddha Temple Golden Pagoda on the Top Big Buddha Temple on the top of the mountain

Big Buddha Temple on the top of the mountain

The Big Buddha in the Big Buddha Temple

In the evening we came to a Dai-style wild vegetable restaurant. The pineapple rice, porcini mushrooms, and banana flowers here were all delicious, but the prices were not cheap. Seven people ate more than 500 yuan, which was not cost-effective.

Cute pumpkin

Banana flower

Porcini

I forgot what this is called

Wild Eggplant

After eating and drinking, we started to head to the last stop of the day, Xingguang Night Market. Xingguang Night Market is packed with people.

Tonight's mission is to take travel photos. There are many travel photography shops near Xingguang Night Market, so you can choose any one. We chose a 199 yuan per person package that includes one outfit, makeup, and photography, two scenic spots, and 30 photos, with 10 retouched. Under the night sky, the Xingguang Night Market is packed with people, all kinds of beautiful women and handsome men taking travel photos. Almost every meter there's someone taking photos, it feels like mass production, which is hilarious. The entrance and exit of Xingguang Night Market are separate, so after taking photos, you have to follow the crowd around in a long circle, which is really annoying and tiring. After queuing up to take photos and then going back to the shop to remove makeup and select photos, it takes about 3-4 hours. So if you want to take photos, try to go early. After I selected the photos, they said they would deliver them in 7-15 days. However, in the end, they destroyed the photos I had carefully retouched. I was so pissed! I decided to ask Xiaoyao to help me fix them. I also want to remind everyone not to use the free boxes for storing bags in stores. If you don't ask for them, you probably won't get your deposit back. It's such a rip-off!

Fairy's Travel Photography - The Golden Horned King

Fairy's Travel Photography - The Silver Horned King

Little Fairy's Travel Photography - Hani Beauty Girls

It was a packed day, and a tiring one. The two kids were awesome and didn't hold us back at all. Jinghong's 25 degrees Celsius is incredibly hot, but it can still be a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings, so you'll need a jacket. I might have caught a cold during the photoshoot. I even bought a shawl on the spot, but it's been a bit uncomfortable since then. Be mindful of the heat and cold when you're out and about!

DAY 3: Visit ethnic villages and watch the new version of "Dai Show."

Today we started our self-drive tour. The Buick GL8 we'd reserved was only available at the airport, so Congtou and I took a taxi to the airport early in the morning. Since it was early in the morning, there wasn't much traffic in Gaozhuang, so the journey was smooth. The driver also pointed us to a reasonably priced parking lot near Gaozhuang, warning us not to park there, as it's a private lot run by people from Northeast China, and it costs 20 yuan an hour. The rental car was new and drove well. It also had ETC, making it very convenient to use the highway. Since I bought comprehensive insurance and the amount of gas was too much and I rarely filled up, I just took a picture of the gas tank and drove away. Gaozhuang Xishuangjing Gate Gaozhuang Peacock Tower Peacock-shaped streetlights

Today's itinerary was quite relaxed. As planned, we drove to Manzhang Village, a small village steeped in Dai tradition. We saw few cars along the way, and we expected it to be deserted. However, we were surprised to find quite a few tourists. Parking for small cars is 10 yuan per car, with no time limit. However, the village is undergoing road construction and renovations, making the already narrow paths even more difficult to navigate. Manzhang Village offers free admission, and there are plenty of activities for children to enjoy. Upon entering, you'll see a fun experience of hand-crushing sugarcane. The village is filled with activities for families, including pottery, brocade weaving, and handmade papermaking. Activities like writing palm leaf scriptures, fishing, and watching cockfighting are also available, costing 10 to 25 yuan each.

Manzhang Village

Traditional method of squeezing sugarcane juice

Charcoal grilled cakes

Cockfighting is very brutal!

Manzhang Village

Ox Heart Fruit

Pottery Pot and Pottery Lamp

Manzhang Village

Manzhang Village also has several Dai-style restaurants, serving grilled chicken, fish, and a variety of vegetables. We also tried freshly squeezed cactus juice for 15 yuan a cup. The taste was indescribable, with a mouthful of grassy flavor. The fruit here is very cheap: a pot of five small starfruits for 10 yuan, and three large red dragon fruits for 10 yuan, allowing you to eat as much fruit as you want. We leisurely strolled around the village, eating, taking photos, and the two children even made pottery. On our way back, we discovered a lot of quirks on the Yunnan Expressway: first, motorcycles can drive on it, and second, there's a traffic light before the tunnel. Delicious and affordable fruit Dai-style roasted chicken

We've booked a show to see "The New Dai Show" tonight. We asked a local driver to book the group tickets for us, so we can save money on our own tickets. We bought VIP tickets for seats in the middle of the first row facing the stage, costing 260 yuan per person, with children under 1.3 meters tall free. So, after returning from Manzhang Village, we drove directly to the nearby Wanda Plaza for afternoon tea and dinner. For dinner, we chose a Northeastern Chinese restaurant, and surprisingly, everyone loved it. The Peacock-Shaped Wanda Plaza

After dinner, we walked to the Peacock Princess Theater for the show. Starting at 6:00 AM, there were side activities like feeding the peacocks, taking photos, and more. At 7:00 PM, guests were greeted and ticket checking began outside. Before the show, Peacock Interaction Let's also have a pre-show moment.

The show officially began at 7:30 and lasted about an hour and 10 minutes. We were seated in the first row. Each seat had a raincoat, indicating that there would be splashes of water in the theater, so we quickly put it on. The entire show was divided into 10 acts, mainly dance-based, with one segment telling the story of the migration of wild elephants. Let’s take a look at some wonderful stills:

New “Dai Show”

New "Dai Show"

The troupe leader and Congcong had seen the "Dai Show" over 10 years ago and were a little disappointed that the new version wasn't as grand as the previous one. The new show made more use of water effects, with the performers dancing in the water, and it was almost enough to give you goosebumps. However, we were in the front row, so we didn't get a single photo of the splashing water. After the show, there was a bonfire party outside, and those interested could join in the dancing. However, the sound system was too loud, and the children were tired, so we headed back to the hotel to rest.

Bonfire party after the new "Dai Show"

I thought the 9:00 a.m. Gaozhuang would be jam-packed with traffic, but the navigation system took us down a small road. Although it was crowded and difficult to navigate, with several steep slopes, it didn't take long to get back to the Peacock Tower and successfully park in the underground parking space. The parking fee was 40 yuan per night. Although the lights downstairs were bright and the traffic was busy, we were tired and decided to lie down.