# Xishuangbanna travel guide (西双版纳) Yunnan Province · Southwest, China · 14 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/yunnan/xishuangbanna ## The feel of the place - **Lush Greenery:** In Xishuangbanna, “lush forest” is almost the only phrase that can describe the scenery. Even though Jinghong is now a modern city, what sets it apart is the shady avenue trees lining its streets, which stay green all year, as there are no seasons here. Interestingly, many of these trees are fruit trees, such as longan and coconut, yet no one picks them when they ripen, because tropical fruit is commonplace here. - **Dai Maiden (Xiaobushao):** Nature shapes its people. “As slender as a dancer, as graceful as a beauty in a painting” is the most fitting description of Dai maidens (xiaobushao). They are pure, delicate, graceful and poised, with an innate spirit and sense of beauty. Their distinctive ethnic costumes make them stand out even more, and they remind us of the diversity and rich culture of the Chinese nation. - **Winding Roads:** If you travel by long-distance bus into Xishuangbanna Prefecture, when the road ahead bends more and more often, and at ever-sharper angles, your destination is near. Touring within Xishuangbanna, you'll also encounter countless bends between sights. ## The feel of the place ### Jinghong Jinghong City is the capital of Xishuangbanna Prefecture. Facilities here are convenient in every way, and tourism in Xishuangbanna largely revolves around Jinghong. ### A Diluted Charm Xishuangbanna is a beautiful and distinctive place, but tourism developed too early, and the charm of Dai culture has been diluted by heavily promoted tourism. Of course, villages in the mountains that have not been developed into tourist destinations may be different. ### Precious Resources Xishuangbanna is the only remaining oasis on the Tropic of Cancer in the world, and it is China's only preserved tropical forest region. ### Xishuangbanna Festivals Visiting during a local Dai festival makes the trip especially memorable. The Dai observe three major festivals: the Gate-Closing Festival, the Gate-Opening Festival and the Water-Splashing Festival. The Gate-Closing Festival falls on the 15th day of the 9th month of the Dai calendar (mid-7th lunar month), and the Gate-Opening Festival on the 15th day of the 12th Dai month (mid-12th lunar month). Both are Buddhist observances marked by numerous large and small ceremonies. The Water-Splashing Festival lasts four days and features activities such as launching sky lanterns, dragon boat racing, water fights and ball-toss games. ### Preparation and Advice ### Language Chinese and the Dai language coexist throughout Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and Mandarin is understood in the vast majority of places. You may run into language barriers only in very remote or traditional mountain villages. ### Climate and When to Go A good way to describe Xishuangbanna's climate is that it is like a natural sauna. There are only two seasons, dry and rainy. In the dry season, Xishuangbanna feels like a dry steam room: waves of heat with nowhere to escape. Once it rains, though, it turns as cool as autumn. The humid heat of the rainy season can be the hardest to bear, as sweat beads up on your skin and simply stays there. In terms of season, November to April is peak tourist season. Temperatures are comfortable during this period, and the annual Water-Splashing Festival is also held then. June to September can be sweltering, but it is the best time to sample tropical fruits. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Xishuangbanna was one of the first areas in Yunnan to be developed for tourism, so its air routes are among the most extensive in the province. Road transport is also convenient. ### Travel Tips 1. Those prone to motion sickness are better off flying, or skipping Xishuangbanna altogether. The winding mountain roads are notorious for car sickness, and local drivers tend to be bold, maintaining their speed even on sharp bends. 2. Express coaches are the best way to reach Xishuangbanna by road, as these vehicles are in better condition and generally faster. ### Hiring a Car To tour Xishuangbanna by taxi, hire a car and agree on terms with the driver. Pay a little extra, state clearly that you will not visit any shopping venues, and make sure the driver is available on call for the full day, including the evening. Do not haggle too hard, or you may save a little money and lose a lot. On the way to Jinghong, you can stop at some genuine local mountain villages. It is best to get to know some residents, who can guide you to undeveloped spots. ### Air ### Rail Xishuangbanna Station opened in 2021. ### Road Jinghong has four long-distance bus stations: Xishuangbanna Passenger Station, Jinghong South Station, Jinghong Bus Station and Gasa Bus Station. Jinghong South Station runs international coaches to Laos. ### Boat Jinghong Port is an important harbour. It now operates an international waterway to Vientiane, Laos, and includes the Jinghong Port Central Pier, Ganlanba Pier and Guanlei Pier. ### Getting Around the City Jinghong has four city bus routes: Route 1: Jiangbei (江北) → Gasa (嘎洒); Route 2: Jinghong Port → Gadong (嘎栋); Route 3: Manting Park → the intersection of Jinghong North Road and Galan North Road; Route 4: Manying Village → Hydrological Station. There is also a No. 8 sightseeing bus line, which departs in both directions from the Flower Garden and the Primeval Forest Park every day at 8:00. Taxis in Jinghong city proper start at ¥7, with ¥1.8 per kilometre and a ¥2 fuel surcharge. The city centre is about 5 kilometres from the airport. A charter usually costs ¥20, or you can take a bus for ¥3. Xishuangbanna now also has an urban rail network. Lines 1 and 2, the Dai Village Line, the Botanical Garden Line, the Wild Elephant Valley Line, the Menghai Line and the Menglong Line form a clear rail transit system. The interchange stations at Manbie (曼别), Xishuangbanna Station, Qiaotou Square and Gaozhuang (告庄) are all close to major tourist areas, making them very convenient. - **Gasa Airport** — Located 5 kilometres from Jinghong city centre, the airport has direct flights from many domestic cities, including Kunming, Shanghai and Chengdu. Gasa Airport is also the only international airport in Yunnan besides Kunming, with direct flights to Bangkok, Thailand. - **Jinghong Bus Station** — (No. 16, Mengle Avenue) - **Xishuangbanna Passenger Station** — (No. 3, Minhang Road) ## Eat & drink Shaped by Xishuangbanna's geography, climate and natural resources, Dai cuisine has developed a distinctive character, often summed up as sour, bitter, spicy and “strange.” Grilling is the standard Dai cooking method. ### Local Snacks and Food Streets Food streets and night markets in Jinghong change often, so ask locals for recommendations. They are usually happy to help. Currently popular spots include the Damanme Dai Barbecue Street and Sanwei Building Dai Barbecue. - **Lemongrass Grilled Fish** — A signature Dai dish. The cleaned fish is wrapped in fragrant lemongrass, then grilled over an open fire and brushed with a little lard. It smells wonderful as it cooks, and the flesh comes out crisp and full of flavour. - **Fragrant Bamboo Rice** — Glutinous rice is soaked in water inside fragrant bamboo tubes, then baked until cooked. To eat it, tap the bamboo until the outer shell cracks, then gently pry it open. The rice slides out with an aromatic fragrance and a fine, delicate texture. - **Tomato Nanmi** — A distinctive Dai dish. This tomato-based sauce is sour, spicy, fresh and delicious. It goes very well with fried beef skin, mint, bitter bamboo shoots and other dishes. - **Pineapple Purple Glutinous Rice** — A glutinous rice dish with Dai character. It is sweet and tasty, and is said to be good for replenishing blood and moistening the lungs. - **Wrapped Grilled Fresh Fish** — A traditional Blang dish with rich, fresh flavour and a delicious taste. - **Pebble-Grilled Fresh Fish Soup** — A specialty of the Blang people. The fish soup is fresh and sweet, with a dry, smoky aroma from the heated stones. - **Luosuo** — “Luosuo” is the Dai word for a rice cake. Starch batter is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until cooked. It is a traditional Dai sweet snack, sold by locals on the streets. - **Manjinglan Flavour Street** — This was once a Dai village on the edge of Jinghong, and is now a street lined with restaurants serving Jinghong flavours. Dinner is accompanied by song and dance performances by amateur performers. The Dai girls' graceful, charming dancing is every bit as good as that of professionals, so you can enjoy both good food and a great show. - **Manting Village Barbecue Night Market** — Located along the southern bypass road of the tourist resort area. It is easy to reach, but parking is difficult. Take Bus 3 and get off at Manting Xiaozhai. ## Nightlife ### Recommended Night Activities - **Golden Sand Beach Entertainment Square** — The city's liveliest barbecue night market. Because Jinghong is so hot, locals often head out to cool off while eating barbecue. Eat light at dinner, or even skip it, since trying every dish will fill you up quickly. - **Starlight Night Market** — Here you can see everyday life in Xishuangbanna in one place, along with religious customs, architecture and local cultural details that are ideal for photography. The night market has many photo studios as well as a variety of snacks. ## Where to stay Jinghong receives a large number of visitors each year, so accommodation prices vary greatly between the peak and off-peak seasons. - **Xishuangbanna Xiangjia Garden Inn** — (Building 8, Jingdezhai, Xishuangjing, Gaozhuang, Jinghong City, 18088103208) ## Things to see - **Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park** (★★★★★): Admission ¥45; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 0.5 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xishuangbanna-primeval-forest-park - **Wild Elephant Valley** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; cable car ¥50 for half the route, ¥70 for the full route; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wild-elephant-valley - **Mengle Culture and Tourism Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours 8:00–18:00; “Bathing the Buddha” ceremonies are held twice daily, at 14:00 and 16:00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mengle-culture-and-tourism-area - **Dai Ethnic Park** (★★★★): Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dai-ethnic-park - **Manting Royal Garden** (★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/manting-royal-garden - **Xishuangbanna Ethnic Folk Park** (★★★): Admission Free admission; entry to the zoo costs ¥40; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xishuangbanna-ethnic-folk-park - **Gaozhuang Xishuangjing** (★★★★): Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gaozhuang-xishuangjing - **Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences** (★★★★): Admission ¥80; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhong-guo-ke-xue-yuan-xi-shuang-ban-na-re-dai-zhi-wu-yuan - **Manfeilong White Pagoda** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 8：00—17：00; Time needed 0.5–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/manfeilong-white-pagoda ## Day trips & beyond - **Daluo** (★★★): Admission Free — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daluo - **Wangtian Tree (Parashorea)** (★★★): Admission Scenic area admission ¥55; combined ticket ¥198 (includes admission, the aerial walkway and a one-way boat ride); Opening hours 8：30—18：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/wangtian-tree-parashorea - **Jino Mountain Village** (★★★★): Admission ¥160; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jino-mountain-village - **Nannuo Mountain** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nannuo-mountain - **Mengyuan Wonderland** (★★★★): Admission ¥55; Opening hours 9：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mengyuan-wonderland --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 285–300. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.