Xishuangbanna is a Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, China. The climate is pleasant all of a year here. Due to its location near the ocean, it rains a lot and many forests grow here. It is the reason why Xishuangbanna has a reputation of “the Kingdom of Plants”.
Beautiful and fascinating Xishuangbanna is famous all over the world, and is a very popular Yunnan tourist destination. The most famous attractions include:
- Single-Tree Forest: A tree does not make a forest. But a nine hundred year old banyan in Daluo Town of Xishuangbanna is the exception. It covers an area of 120 square meters (143.6 square yards) with over thirty stand roots. This 70-meter-high (230-feet-tall) banyan is an attractive and marvelous forest in itself.
- Wild Elephant Valley: Chinese wild elephants are only found in the virgin forest of the Wild Elephant Valley, located in the Mengyang Nature Reserve, 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jinghong. There are hostels in the elephant park. Cabins in trees on riverbank are the most perfect localities to admire the elephants.
- Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda: Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda is a Hinayana Buddhist architecture complex consisted of nine masonry pagodas of all sizes. It is also known as the White Pagoda due to its pure white structure. During the Water-Sprinkling Festival, crowds of the Dai people in Manfeilong Village will gather in front of the pagoda to celebrate the New Year of the Dai Calendar.
- Olive Dam: Olive Dam is the lowest and hottest place in Xishuangbanna. However, its torrid climate brings rich tropical fruits and products. It consists of two stockaded villages, each of which is highlighted by an eyeful of typical Burma styled Buddhist pagodas and bamboo building of the Dai minority.
Other Scenic Spots are Mandian Waterfall, Xishuangbanna Tropical plant Research Insititute, Xishuangbanna Nationality Culture Park, Old Town of Yiwu.
Now your family can enjoy a virtual tour to Xishuangbanna in two languages (Mandarin Chinese and English) with concealed subtitles in Chinese and English as well, a perfect way to learn Chinese language and Chinese culture. All the menu options are in English and Chinese.