Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna takes on the look and atmosphere of a typical South Asian region, characterized by a diverse folklore, lush tropical rain forests, and many species of rare plants and wildlife. Xishuangbanna is also home to the Dai minority people, whose interesting and colorful traditions are well represented through their daily life style and native modes of dressing. A trip to Xishuangbanna is a distinctive experience due to the tropical natural scenery and the remarkable Dai culture.
Special Feature
Xishuangbanna contains the one setting of China's tropical rainforest in China and within the area is preserved pristine Dai culture. While biology buffs may salivate over the various of flora and fauna in the region, those who have no horticultural inclination will still be intrigued by the region's unique culture.
Weather and climate
Xishuangbannan has two kinds of weather: wet and dry. The wet season runs between June and August, every day accompanied by almost daily drizzle. From September to February there is less rain. The region enjoys pleasant temperatures for most of the year other than summertime, which can be swelteringly hot.
Sights
White Stupa
White Stupa is an ensemble of nine stupas with the largest one in the middle and the eight other minor ones surrounding it. A huge footprint in its niche is said to have been left by Buddha, and is very sacred to Buddhists.
Octagonal Pavilion
The octagonal pavilion, called "Wo Su" in the Dai language, is a place where the senior Buddhist monks give sutra, repent, hold meetings and memorize Buddhist teachings and scriptures.
Wild Elephant Valley
It actually is a nature reserve for the tropical rainforest and its wild life. Here in this jungle live about 70 wild Asian elephants. Wild elephants usually come out at night, so the locals built a small hotel in the tops of trees for tourists who want to observe wild elephants close at hand.
Accommodation
There are around 30 star-rated hotels in Xishuangbanna Region. Hotel prices vary according to the travel season. Generally speaking, prices are much more expensive during the summer and autumn, while cheaper in the low seasons of winter and spring. The Dai Garden Hotel( No.8 South Road, Nongling, Jinghong, Xishuangbanna) and the Crown Plaza Hotel (Economic Zone Jinghong city) are among the best in the region..
Transportation
The Xishuangbanna Airport is 5 km away from JInghong city. There are flights to Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Tianjin. Flight time to Kunming from Jinghong takes around 45 minutes.
Food & Eating
The local specialties include bamboo rice, fragrant bamboo glutinous rice, roasted fish, and fried cowhide. The area near the new bridge, called Jinshatan in jinghong city, is clustered with food stalls. When the veil of night descends, it is wrapped in the tasty fragrances of a wide variety of enticing food choices.
Local Festivals
The Dai people celebrate three main festivals, which are the Opening Door Festival, Closing Door Festival and the Water-splashing Festival. The first two festivals are dedicated to Buddha. Grand celebrations and worshipping activities are held at the various stupas in the region. The Water-splashing Festival is the most important occasion in the area, which seems to inject a bit of life into the otherwise uneventful region. The whole community and tourists alike will be out in the streets joyfully joining in a battle of water splashing onto each other during that day. The city turns out to be a sea of billow and spray.
More travel information in Xishuangbanna
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