6 Days Xishuangbanna In-Depth Tour: Ethnic Culture, Nature & Tea Traditions

Welcome to Xishuangbanna, the home of the Dai people! Upon arrival at Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport, the local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel in Jinghong city. The rest of today is free on your own to explore this southernmost city in Yunnan Province.

Visit Wild Elephant Valley at the suburb of Jinghong City is the only place to see wild Asian elephants in whole China, which says a group of wild Asian elephant would show every 4.4 days averagely, particularly in the morning, dusk and night. It is a hot place to see the rare elephant species on the great viewing deck high above, where is also wonderful to have a panorama of the dense tropical rainforest for mental and visual refreshment. Do not miss the Asian Elephants Museum to have a closer look at the real specimen of the Asian elephant and learn more about that rare animal species.

Then, be tansfered to visit Manzhang Dai ethnic village.It is a unique village with a history of more than 500 years and is home to the main ethnic group of the Dai people, whose traditional ethnic culture has been well preserved. The pleasant sound of roosters crowing can be heard throughout as you stroll through the village, and you can even join the locals in song and dance performances along the banks of the Nanyang River. You can also learn traditional handicraft such as paper making and pottery whilst experiencing the purity and warm passion of the Dai people.

Then drive to Manting Park, Xishuangbanna's most famous landmark and the former royal garden of the Dai kingdom. As legend says, the Dai Princess once visited the park and her soul attracted much by its beautiful scenery, hence Manting Park is also called Chunhuan Park by Dai locals, which means "Garden of the Soul". In this complex with a history of 1,300 years, you will be able to relive the splendor and pageantry of the past in every Buddhist statue, towering spire, vacant monastery and beautifully designed lake. And you will find the best examples of Dai Buddhist architecture in the park - the Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion and Manfeilong White Tower.

After breakfast, travel to Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, the largest tropical botanical garden in China and one of the region's most impressive natural attractions. Located about 60 km from Jinghong, the garden is home to thousands of tropical plant species from around the world. Explore the beautiful West Area by sightseeing shuttle, passing through colorful gardens filled with orchids, palms, lotus flowers, bamboo forests, and rare tropical plants. Take your time to enjoy the peaceful rainforest scenery and learn more about the unique ecosystems of Xishuangbanna through the garden's exhibitions and nature displays.

After the visit, continue your journey to Mengla County, located near the China-Laos border, for an overnight stay.

Today, venture deeper into the tropical rainforest at Wangtianshu Scenic Area, one of the best places to experience the untouched beauty of Xishuangbanna's jungle ecosystem. Walk along the famous rainforest canopy walkway, a thrilling aerial corridor built among towering sky trees over 100 meters high. From above the forest floor, enjoy a unique perspective of the rainforest layers and surrounding greenery.

You will also explore the Nanla River area, where the peaceful waterways and lush vegetation create a landscape often compared to the Amazon rainforest. Along the way, discover the traditional lifestyles of local Dai, Hani, and Blang communities through visits to nearby ethnic villages.

After the rainforest adventure, return to Jinghong for your overnight stay.

Today, explore the cultural heart of Xishuangbanna through ancient tea forests, traditional villages, and the unique lifestyles of its ethnic communities.

Nannuo Shan (Mount Nannuo) is famed for its pu'er tea, which is grown, harvested and cured by the Hani people who have long inhabited this region. Hikers will encounter ancient tea trees that still bear buds which are used for a variety of medicinal purposes alongside traditional pu'er and green tea beverages.Start hiking from foot of the mountain, with some ascent first, then flat and slow descent, walk takes 3 hours in total and is not very tough. Moving along small trail or tractor road across villages and ancient tea plantations, we can enjoy refreshing air in forest, listen to singing of birds and chirps of insects in nature, explore Aini people's simple and traditional life, if like, enter their wooden house built on stilts and have a short chat with them over a cup of most organic homegrown green tea.

This afternoon you will say goodbye to the villagge and jungles and then be escorted to Jinuo Ethnic Village, which is inhabited by the 56th group in China called Jinuo Ethnic Group. A lively Jinuo Ethnic Show awaits you. You'll enjoy the show while trying some typical food of them.

After the day tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at Jinghong downtown. As you walk further to the back gate of Manting Park, awe-inspiring golden monasteries of Zongfosi Temple will leap to your eyes one after one. Zongfosi Temple isn't your usual Buddhist temple, indeed, it was once an exclusive temple of Dai Kings in history. And it has long been the vital heart of Xishuangbanna Buddhist worship, ranking higher than all other temples in Xishuangbanna. The temple worships more than 25 states of Buddhas, including a remarkable 2.5-meter-high golden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. More than 80 monks now study here. As you approach those mystical monasteries, you will hear tranquil sounds of their chanting.

After breakfast, enjoy your final moments in Xishuangbanna before your guide and driver transfer you to Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport for your flight home. Your unforgettable journey through tropical rainforests, ancient villages, and ethnic cultures comes to an end. We hope the memories of Xishuangbanna's warm people, beautiful landscapes, and unique traditions stay with you for years to come.