Yunnan is a fantastic place, and I have always believed that it has the most abundant travel resources in China, bar none.
In the northwest of Yunnan, you can visit Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Meili, and Yubeng, where the landscape gradually unfolds into the Tibetan region.
The southwest route takes you to Tengchong and Nujiang, home to various ethnic minorities in Yunnan, including the Lahu, Lisu, Nu, and Derung, each with their unique characteristics.
The southern line leads to Pu’er, Lancang, and Xishuangbanna, dominated by tropical scenery, making you feel as if you have arrived in Southeast Asia.
The eastern line features Jianshui, Luoping, Yuanyang, Bamei, and Puzhehei, boasting red earth, rapeseed flowers, hidden paradises, and terraced fields, all showcasing stunning natural landscapes.
Therefore, Yunnan is worth visiting multiple times. Even if you go 5-6 times, you can have a different experience each time.
Today, I will focus on Xishuangbanna, as I have recently visited this place again.
The introduction of the “Sui Xin Fei” (a special discounted flight ticket) by the airline is fantastic. A round trip to Xishuangbanna almost pays back the annual cost of the “Sui Xin Fei” ticket. Moreover, I also took a round trip from Hangzhou to Sanya, making it even more worthwhile.
Xishuangbanna was not as popular in the past; it has only gained popularity in the last two years. I think there are two main reasons for this:
First, people cannot travel abroad now. When they could visit Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos, I honestly did not find Xishuangbanna particularly appealing. It was better to fly to Chiang Mai or Bangkok for a more authentic Southeast Asian experience.
However, now that we cannot travel overseas, where else in China can you find the Southeast Asian vibe apart from Xishuangbanna?
Second, the promotion on Douyin and Xiaohongshu has helped. Xishuangbanna gained popularity on Douyin, and the Dai disco is incredibly fun, with people jumping and dancing to the beat.
Now, let’s talk about the travel guide for Xishuangbanna, a very detailed guide that will help you understand how to explore this place.
Who is Xishuangbanna suitable for?
It is said that Lijiang is for solo travelers, Dali is for couples, and Xishuangbanna is for families. Xishuangbanna is most suitable for family trips, where people of all ages can travel together.
Of course, this does not mean that solo travelers, couples, or friends are not suitable. It’s just that Xishuangbanna is more fitting for a family trip.
What to do in Xishuangbanna?
The tourist attractions in Xishuangbanna are relatively scattered. Apart from Jinghong (the city center), there are attractions in the east, west, and north. I found a map online for your reference.
Therefore, in Xishuangbanna, as long as you are not staying in Mengla Town or Menghai Town, which are far east and west, it doesn’t matter where you stay.
According to the east, south, west, and north:
- North line: Wild Elephant Valley, Jinuo Mountain Village, Primitive Forest Park, etc.
- East line: Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, Dai Ethnic Park, Wangtianlin, etc.
- West line: Single Tree Forest Scenic Area, Mengjinglai Scenic Area, Hani Cultural Park, Jingmai Mountain, etc.
- City area: Manting Park, Grand Buddha Temple, Big Buddha Temple, Grand Pagoda, Xingguang Night Market, Riverside Night Market, Dai disco, taking photos in Dai costumes, watching Dai shows, Starbucks in Xishuangbanna, etc.
The north and east lines are must-visits. The north line showcases Dai villages, while the east line focuses more on plants. Each requires a day’s itinerary.
The attractions in the city area are also a must-see. Fortunately, these attractions are relatively close, and one day is enough.
Then spend one evening at the Xingguang Night Market, another evening watching the Dai show, and find another night to go to the Dai disco.
Therefore, when visiting Xishuangbanna, you should plan for at least a 4-day-3-night itinerary (5-day-4-night is even better).
If categorized by the type of scenic spots:
- Temples and parks: Grand Buddha Temple, Big Buddha Temple, Jinghong Grand Pagoda (inside Gaozhuang Shuangxi Scenic Area), Manting Park
- Ethnic villages: Mandiu Village, Manzhang Village, Manyuan Village, Manfeilong (delicious food), Jinuo Mountain Village
- Natural scenery: Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden (must-visit), Wangtianlin, Primitive Forest Park, Single Tree Forest Scenic Area, Mengjinglai, Jingmai Mountain
- Special performances: Dai show (must-watch), Lancang-Mekong Bonfire Party at Manting Park
- Local experiences: Dai disco (recommended), taking photos in Dai costumes
- Markets: Xingguang Night Market (must-visit), Riverside Night Market, Jinghong Farmers Market, Xishuangbanna Trade Market, Mange Fruit Wholesale Market
Let me highlight a few key points, starting with the must-visit (experience) ones.
Dai Disco
There is a bar in Xishuangbanna called BABI. Around midnight, there is a Dai disco that lasts for about an hour.
Dai disco involves everyone wearing traditional Dai costumes and dancing to sped-up Dai-style music. The music and the attire can easily make people feel enchanted.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to dance. There is a Dai disco lesson before it starts, and you will learn quickly.
I recorded a few short videos for you to watch.
This is how you immerse yourself in the local customs of Xishuangbanna.
Watching the Dai Show
The Dai show is truly worth watching. The last time I saw such a spectacular show was “The House of Dancing Water” in Macau.
Initially, the Wanda Group invested a whopping 2 billion yuan to build the Golden Conical Hat Dai Show Theatre in Xishuangbanna. This theatre serves only one purpose: to stage the Dai show every evening.
The Dai show is directed by Mr. Franco Dragone, the mastermind behind Cirque du Soleil, the “O” show in Las Vegas, and the “House of Dancing Water” in Macau. With Cirque du Soleil and Franco Dragone at the helm, it’s no surprise that this show is exceptional.
Based on the ancient Dai narrative poem “The Peacock Princess,” the Dai show tells the story of a young man’s journey through love, temptation, and rebirth.
Before I visited Xishuangbanna, people had recommended the Dai show to me, saying that it would be a shame to miss it while in Yunnan. Naturally, I was skeptical at first, but after watching it, I can attest that the Dai show is truly amazing.
I have seen quite a few shows, and the ones I rate the highest in China are “The House of Dancing Water” in Macau and the Dai show in Xishuangbanna.
However, the Dai show is not cheap. Even the most affordable tickets cost 320 yuan per person. I suggest buying tickets in Zone B for a relatively better view.
Exploring the Markets
The Xingguang Night Market in Xishuangbanna is an absolute must-visit. When I previously traveled in Southeast Asia, I loved visiting night markets, as they offer a variety of food, drinks, entertainment, and great value for money.
The Xingguang Night Market in Xishuangbanna left me utterly amazed. It is the epitome of human warmth and bustling life in Xishuangbanna.
Located in Gaozhuang, the most central area of Xishuangbanna, the Xingguang Night Market only opens in the evening and is incredibly vast!
It is genuinely enormous. I spent a full three hours browsing through the market, and that was just a cursory walkthrough.
Of course, being a tourist night market, the food and items sold there may not be the cheapest, but it certainly offers the most diverse selection and local specialties.
I had one of my dinners at the night market, indulging in Dai-style barbecue and stir-fry dishes.
The Xingguang Night Market boasts an incredible variety of food. Most of the dishes here feature strong ethnic minority flavors, along with some Thai, Vietnamese, and Burmese tastes.
However, the Riverside Night Market in the city center is more popular among locals. The Riverside Night Market is more down-to-earth and affordable, but it may not be as visually appealing or entertaining as the Xingguang Night Market.
We visited both.
Apart from the night markets, several food markets are also enjoyable to explore.
To truly immerse yourself in the life of a place, you should visit the local food markets. The Jinghong Farmers Market, Xishuangbanna Trade Market, and Mange Fruit Wholesale Market in Xishuangbanna are all worth a visit.
The fruits here are incredibly cheap!
There are also various ingredients that I have seen and some that I haven’t.
Taking Beautiful Photos in Dai Costumes
When I went to the night market, I saw hundreds of young ladies dressed in Dai and Thai costumes, taking photos around the Grand Pagoda and Xingguang Night Market. There were easily a few hundred, if not more.
And one photographer was shooting multiple ladies.
It’s evident that this approach won’t yield great photos.
However, taking a set of Dai costume portraits in Xishuangbanna is quite popular. I recommend finding a photographer on the versatile Taobao in advance and arranging a one-on-one photo shoot.
Avoid choosing those 99 or 199 yuan packages at the night market where one photographer shoots multiple people.
For the accompanying photo, I’ll just include a Dai costume photo of Ju Jingyi taken in Xishuangbanna in March. Although I don’t see much technical prowess in this photo either.
Enjoying a Cup of Yunnan Coffee
Yunnan produces coffee, so drinking coffee in Yunnan is quite meaningful. It connects the first and last miles of the coffee beans.
In the Wanda Plaza, you’ll find the only Starbucks in Xishuangbanna, which also happens to be a visually appealing one.
It’s worth visiting for a check-in and buying a city mug while you’re there.
Another coffee shop worth recommending is Dailuo Coffee.
In Xishuangbanna, too many people drink the popular Laotian iced coffee. After trying a few bags, I wanted to try a new flavor. Luckily, the driver recommended a local Xishuangbanna brand called Dailuo Coffee. It’s a store dedicated to coffee, and almost all the customers are locals, with a constant stream of takeaway orders.
I tried the Laotian coconut milk iced coffee, and it was stunning.
However, the hand-brewed Laotian iced coffee sold on the roadside is also a local specialty worth trying.
If we’re talking about attractions, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden is a must-visit. It is the only 5A-level scenic spot in Xishuangbanna.
This botanical garden is divided into east and west sections, covering a total area of 11.25 square kilometers and housing over 12,000 plant species, including a large tract of pristine tropical rainforest.
The entrance ticket costs 75 yuan per person, and adding a battery-powered car for the entire park costs 175 yuan. Tickets can be purchased in advance on OTA platforms. I highly recommend buying the battery-powered car; otherwise, you’ll exhaust yourself from walking.
The most popular giant water lily leaves on the internet are only available from July to August. Small children can safely take photos while sitting on them, and not-too-heavy young ladies should be able to do so as well. However, if you’re like me, it’s best not to attempt it.
You can also take a hot air balloon ride in this park. The hot air balloon costs 280 yuan per person, but the ride only lasts 10 minutes.
Another attraction worth visiting, in my opinion, is the Wangtian Tree. Here, you’ll find towering trees with a wooden walkway constructed between them. It’s quite thrilling to walk on it.
As for other attractions, I recommend visiting a Dai village. The differences between Mandiu Village, Manzhang Village, Manyuan Village, Manfeilong, and Jino Mountain Village are minimal.
If I had to recommend one, I’d choose Manfeilong because their roasted chicken is delicious. And this roasted chicken can be found right inside the Manfeilong Village.
When it comes to temples, Manting Park, Zong Buddha Temple, Grand Buddha Temple, Grand Pagoda, and Prajna Temple are all conveniently located in the city center, making it easy to visit them all without any hassle.
The temples in Xishuangbanna are very similar to those in Thailand, and they are all quite suitable for taking beautiful photos.
If you had to choose, the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple has more activities. The water-splashing festival in Xishuangbanna was canceled this year, right? But you can still experience it at the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.
Prajna Temple is pure white and particularly photogenic.
Manting Park was originally the Dai King’s Imperial Garden, while Zong Buddha Temple was once the holy place where the highest rulers and tribal chiefs of Xishuangbanna worshipped Buddha. There are white peacocks at Zong Buddha Temple.
What to eat in Xishuangbanna and where to eat?
Xishuangbanna mainly offers Dai and Thai flavors.
Dai cuisine primarily includes Dai barbecue, Dai afternoon tea, peacock feast, “chong” series, lemongrass grilled fish, lemon grilled fish, and so on.
In addition to the many Dai barbecue stalls in the night markets, I highly recommend a restaurant called Laohui Roast Chicken. They roast dozens of chickens together, and just the sight of it is enough to whet your appetite.
Apart from roast chicken, they also offer some grilled meat and local Xishuangbanna specialties (such as fried tofu strips and stir-fried beef tripe).
The average price per person is reasonable, making it a worthwhile place to eat.
Dai afternoon tea is also a valuable experience.
Normally, afternoon tea is mostly comprised of sweets, but Dai afternoon tea features sour and refreshing dishes. For example, there’s a mango salad that is both salty and spicy, but it’s inexplicably refreshing to eat.
This afternoon tea is available at the Crowne Plaza.
The “chong” series is also truly delicious, with dishes like chong chicken feet, chong potatoes, chong rice noodle rolls…
“Chong” refers to the process of pounding the cooked main ingredients together with various seasonings, garlic, herbs, chili, fried peanuts, etc., in a stone mortar. Take chong chicken feet, for example. The flavors of the chicken feet, various seasonings, and herbs are combined, resulting in a spicy, fragrant, and sour-refreshing taste.
The peacock feast is also one of the local delicacies. If you have a large group, the peacock feast is quite suitable.
It’s essentially a table full of Dai dishes arranged in the shape of a peacock. While it may not be exceptionally delicious, it’s still an interesting culinary experience.
There’s also Laotian iced coffee available all over the streets, served in paper bags (with a nylon bag inside). The weather in Xishuangbanna is hot, so drinking some ice every day is particularly refreshing.
About the peak and off-seasons in Xishuangbanna
November to April of the following year, while the rainy season is from May to October each year. Previously, April-June and September-October were relatively less busy, but that’s not the case at all this year. I went in April, and the Wen Hua Hotel was fully booked, which was really extraordinary.
Although it rains during the summer months of July-August, it’s definitely still a peak season. Then there’s the period from November to February. Xishuangbanna enjoys a summer-like climate all year round, so when it’s winter in our region, business there is even better.
Where else can you visit in combination with Xishuangbanna?
Xishuangbanna is part of the Southern Yunnan route and can be combined with visits to Pu’er, Lincang, and Lancang. I recommend Pu’er, which is less than a two-hour drive from Xishuangbanna.
Pu’er is a tea-producing area in Yunnan and is quite worth visiting.
Recommended itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Xishuangbanna, visit the Xingguang Night Market in the evening for food, drinks, entertainment, and shopping.
- Day 2: City tour (by hired car or Didi), visiting Manting Park, Zong Buddha Temple, Grand Buddha Temple, and Grand Pagoda. Watch the Dai show in the evening, then visit the Riverside Night Market.
- Day 3: East route, visiting Manfeilong, Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, and Wangtian Tree. Return to the Xingguang Night Market in the evening.
- Day 4: Choose between the North route or the West route.
- Day 5: Return trip.
You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned much about hotel selection. Don’t worry, I’ll be writing another article on how to choose hotels in Xishuangbanna. Today’s article is already over 3,500 characters long, so the hotel selection guide will have to wait for the next one.
Xishuangbanna is definitely going to become increasingly popular this year
There’s only one place in China that can perfectly replace Southeast Asia, and that’s Xishuangbanna. Moreover, the high-speed rail from Kunming to Xishuangbanna is about to open. Currently, the biggest problem with Xishuangbanna is transportation. You can only fly there, and there are limited cities with direct flights to Xishuangbanna, with most requiring a transfer in Kunming.
However, once the high-speed rail opens, it will be even more convenient to travel from Kunming to Xishuangbanna. By then, tourism in Xishuangbanna is expected to continue booming.
