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Xishuangbanna is a multi-nationality region, so, villages of different nationalities are scattered everywhere and offered a special view. People are hospitable and friendly in the village, they smile to every visitor and always keep optimistic about their life. You can find chances to observe local people’s life at very close quarter.
Tropical Flower & Plant Garden is situated in Jinghong City, occupies an area of about 80 hectares. This park once was the experimental field of Yunnan Tropical Crops Institute, which specializes in research on various tropical crops and made a big contribution to rubber planting in Xishuangbanna. With all kinds of nice tropical flowers and ornamental plants cultivated with their advantageous technology, it was opened to public as a park in 1999.
Manting Park is called Chunhuang as well in local Dai language, means Garden of Spirits. This park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna, used to be royal garden of Dai. Many trees and ornamental plants growing in it providing people with a good rest place. Wabajie Temple, the Buddhist temple with the highest status in Xishuangbanna is situated here.
Nationality Park is situated in the south of Jinghong City, it used to be an litchi orchard. This park concentrates on the ethnic customs of 6 major nationalities in Xishuangbanna. They are Dai, Aini, Lahu, Bulang, Yao and Jinuo. In museums of them, you will find out how their traditional life is going. If you are interested in ethnic groups, you come to the right shop.
Wild Elephant Valley is to the North of Jinghong City, about 50 kilometers far. It actually is a nature reserve for tropical rainforest and wild lives. Here in jungle live about 70 wild Asian elephants. Wild elephants usually come out at night, so people built a small hotel on tops of trees in forest for tourists who want to observe wild elephants closely. A 2-kilometer long cable way in the park enables people to enjoy rainforest view from the air.
Octagonal PavilionOctagonal Pavilion is another famous architecture work of Dai people. It’s located by Jingzheng village, Mengzhe, Menghai County, about 80 kilometers from Jinghong. This pavilion was built in 1701, 21 meters in height and 10 meters in diameter. It served as a meeting room for senior monks in locality. Special architectural art makes it well-know.
Ganlanba is about 30 kilometers away from Jinghong City. It is a basin by the Mekong. Here is where you can see the most typical Dai villages and the nicest countryside scenery. Palms, villages, paddy field and mountains at distance formed a gorgeous picture.
Tropical Botanical GardenTropical botanical garden in Menglun is the biggest tropical botanical garden in China, it is a research belonging to Chinese Academy of Science , about 80 kilometers far from Jinghong. Garden was built in 1959 under leadership of famous botanist Cai Xitao, specializing in cultivation and introduction of all kinds of tropical plants. Garden covers an area of around 900 hectares, more than 3000 kinds of plants growing here, formed a picturesque garden and attracted countless visitors.
White Stupa White stupa is located on the top of a small hill behind Manfeilong village, Damenglong, which is about 70 kilometers far from Jinghong. Stupa was build in 1204, the major one in the middle is 16.29 meters and eight minor ones around are 9.1 meters in height. This stupa group is very famous in Southeast Asia, there is a huge footprint in its niche, it is said was left by Buddha and very sacred to Buddhists.
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Time: April 13-15 every year. Venue: Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Origin: Legend has it that there once lived a demon king who was wreaking havoc in Xishuangbanna by taking seven young women as his wives against their will. The women finally rose in rebellion and killed the demon king, thereby ridding the area of a scourge. However, the chopped head of the demon king kept rolling, causing fire in its trail, and the fire could be put out only when one of the women held it in her arms. Thus the seven women took turns holding the demon head once a year. When one woman’s turn was over, the local people would splash water on her, so as to rinse her of the blood and expel the evil spirits out of her; the gesture was also an expression of gratitude for the women for keeping the local people from harm’s way. With the passing of time, the demon king’s head was finally burned to ashes. Splashing water on each other, however, has gradually evolved into part of local custom. What’ s On: Dragon boat races, the firing of indigenous missiles, dances to the accompaniment of the beating of drums on a pedestal shaped like an elephant’s legs, peacock dances, sightseeing, country fairs, and water-splashing festivities. During the festival pouches are tossed between unmarried men and women as tokens of love. |
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| Some phptos from Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna | |||||
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