Spring Festival, Encountering the Tropical Charm of Xishuangbanna

1. Colorful Spring Festival Activities in Xishuangbanna

(1) Rich Cultural Activities

Jinghong City, Menghai County, and Mengla County have launched a variety of cultural activities during the Spring Festival, bringing a strong festive atmosphere to local residents and tourists. Jinghong City held the Spring Festival Civilization Practice Activities of "Appreciating New Year Paintings and Celebrating the New Year" and "Our Festival and Spiritual Home", setting up nine sections including "calligraphy", "instrumental music", "singing and dancing", "games", "free cutting", "free diagnosis", and "intangible cultural heritage exhibition", allowing citizens to experience the charm of traditional culture in joy. During the event, volunteers transformed into "calligraphers" and wrote hundreds of auspicious Spring Festival couplets and the word "fu". Citizens who came to observe and receive Spring Festival couplets came in a continuous stream, and the scene was filled with laughter and joy, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere

Menghai County organized the "New Spring, Writing Spring Couplets, and Sending Blessings" New Year Cultural Benefit Activity for the people. Cultural volunteers from the County Calligraphers Association voluntarily wrote Spring Couplets on site and sent out a total of 3600 sets of Spring Couplets and "Fu" characters. In addition, Menghai County has also launched cultural performances to welcome the Chinese New Year, enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the masses

Mengla County has launched the "Culture Welcomes Spring, Art for the People" 2024 "Sending Blessings to Thousands of Homes" Spring Festival series activities, launching themed book exhibitions such as "Reading Welcomes Spring Festival, Bookish Fragrance Celebrates the New Year", "You Choose Books, I Pay the Price", Spring Festival folk and literary knowledge prize guessing, spiritual civilization construction achievements exhibition, and "Sending Spring Couplets to Welcome Spring Festival", which have been well received by citizens

(II) Featured Activities of Major Scenic Spots

Gaozhuang West Shuangjing will host the 6th Dai culture festival, with a strong lineup of Dai float parades and exciting ethnic performances and song and dance evenings, allowing tourists to experience a traditional ethnic cultural feast.

. The 2024 Tropical Flower and Fruit Festival, held at the Tropical Flower Garden, is themed around tropical flowers and fruits. It features a spring flower market, tropical fruit exhibitions, special check-in points, fruit farmer markets, cultural and creative handicraft markets, and a specialty food area. Visitors can purchase local delicacies and taste tropical fruits here. The "Xishuangbanna Night - Nanyao Garden No Night City" event in Nanyao Garden Scenic Area allows visitors to enjoy large-scale themed lantern exhibitions, Tang Dynasty drama scenes, participate in bonfire parties and other activities, and immerse themselves in the fun of watching lanterns and visiting the park

2. The delicious food during the Spring Festival in Xishuangbanna

(1) Recommended specialty restaurants

In Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, there are many specialty restaurants worth visiting. For example, there is a small mushroom eating courtyard hidden in Gaozhuang, and the environment is so beautiful that it feels like entering a deep courtyard in Jiangnan. The mushroom hotpot here is very rich, with a platter of eight seasonal mushroom seeds, along with local chicken, seasonal vegetables, ham, noodles, cold dishes, etc., making the taste delicious. Every corner of the store is covered in huge photos, which are particularly beautiful and perfect for having New Year's Eve dinner here. There is also a Mushroom Elf and Wild Mushroom themed restaurant, which is recommended by locals to be located within the scenic area but offers high cost performance and convenient transportation. In store environment, wild mushroom chicken pot bottom with nine kinds of wild mushroom platters, delicious mushroom soup, unbeatable tenderness of wandering chicken, Yunnan ham boiling and eating opens up a new world. There is also yellow beef and luncheon meat, allowing six people to eat until they are full

(II) Introduction to Local Cuisine

Xiangmaocao Grilled Fish in Xishuangbanna is a specialty dish of the Dai ethnic group, which is fragrant, crispy, and can greatly enhance appetite. It uses locally grown bamboo slices to hold fish and grill them over an open flame, creating both the aroma of grilled meat and the fragrance of bamboo. This dish uses fragrant thatch and coriander, which are abundant in the tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna, with a unique scent of lemongrass. There is also a special sauce from the Dai ethnic group in the fish belly called 'Tomato Rumi'. Xiangcao grass is a type of grass spice that grows in subtropical regions. It naturally contains a lemon aroma and has the effects of ventilating the stomach, awakening the mind, and stimulating emotions. When making, wash the fish and remove any impurities from the intestines. Cut the scallions, ginger, garlic, green chili peppers, and cilantro into small pieces and mix them with salt. Put them into the fish belly, tie them with two or three fragrant grass leaves, clamp them tightly with bamboo slices, and bake them on charcoal. When they are about 80% ripe, apply lard and continue baking for about 5 minutes before they are ready to eat. Lemongrass grilled fish can generally be found at night market stalls, with an approximate price of 15 yuan

Thirdly, there are various ways to enjoy the Spring Festival in Xishuangbanna.

(1) Check in at popular attractions

Manting Park: Manting Park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna, with a history of over 1300 years, and was once the imperial garden of the Dai king. Here, the three main thematic features of "Dai royal culture, * * culture, and Dai folk culture" are concentrated. The park covers an area of over 400 acres and has over 500 well preserved ancient iron knife wood forests and vegetation, as well as Buddhist pagodas and temples. It is a natural village style park. There are 8 areas in the park, including the Ethnic Culture Square, Vine Plant Area, Tropical Orchid Garden, Peacock Garden, * * Cultural Area, and Tree Planting Memorial Area. Here, tourists can enjoy facilities such as the Premier Zhou Memorial Monument, the General Pavilion, the Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion simulation, as well as the Four Corner Pavilion, Six Corner Pavilion, and Dai Sala Pavilion. You can also participate in the warm Loong Boat race and the Dai folk sand piling activities full of artistic interest. During the Spring Festival, Manting Park is particularly lively, with a variety of "Manting Spring Festival" activities. Tourists can taste Dai cuisine, experience Pu'er tea culture, Jinshui leak printing paintings, Pagong sewing, plant printing, Dai pottery, Dai paper, ethnic clothing, plant essential oil blending, and more. The night project of the scenic area, the "Lancang River Mekong River Night" singing and dancing bonfire party, integrates ethnic customs and exotic scenery, and is a popular tourism performance brand among domestic and foreign tourists. In addition, the scenic area has also launched "Man Ting Chun Huan" red cultural theme activities, plant science popularization parent-child activities, millennium slow wheel Dai pottery experience, Dai king palace etiquette and other experience projects, allowing tourists to experience the diverse culture and charm of Xishuangbanna

****: ****** is a new building restored and rebuilt on the original site of the royal temple "Jing Piao * *" in the ancient Dai Dynasty, built according to the national AAAA level scenic spot. The Da Jin Pagoda has a diameter of about 60 meters and a height of about 80 meters. It consists of a main tower, 8 auxiliary towers, and 16 small towers. It is the largest Jin Pagoda in Southeast Asia and a landmark building in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna. Tourists can first take a sightseeing bus to the top of the mountain, which can maintain their physical strength and not fall behind any of the visiting points. At the mountaintop, you can take a photo with the Golden Pagoda. The dragon heads on both sides of the hall clean your hands, wash away all your troubles, and then touch the Pixiu next to you. Everything goes smoothly. Walk on the glass walkway and overlook the whole Jinghong urban area, enjoying the ancient and modern culture. There are also water splashing carnival and peacock release activities in the scenic area, which are held at multiple time slots every day. It is also possible to experience water splashing and watch peacocks release. There is a performance before splashing water, remember to sit in the red carpet area, children like to play in the water. After the peacock flies down, you can feed it and take a photo. It's very happy to have close contact with the peacock

Wild Elephant Valley: Wild Elephant Valley is the only scenic spot in China where wild Asian elephants can be safely observed. It is also a scientific research base for monitoring and researching Asian elephants, breeding wild butterflies, and rescuing wild animals in Xishuangbanna. The scenic area covers an area of 5.17 square kilometers, 22 kilometers away from Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and 10 kilometers away from Mengyang Town. Wild Elephant Valley belongs to the humid monsoon climate of the northern and southern subtropical regions, with a hot climate and distinct dry and wet seasons. The main attractions here include Butterfly Farm, White Bird Garden, Asian Elephant Museum, etc. Tourists can watch elephant parades and elephant science popularization at the Elephant School, where they can get up close to Asian elephants, including demonstrations of how elephants eat, measuring their weight and body length, and more. The whole process is fun, and elephants interact with people very lively and look very healthy. You can also go to the Rainforest Theater to wait for ethnic dance performances, visit lizard gardens, butterfly gardens, orchid gardens, etc. Taking photos with telephoto lenses is very impressive. The Orchid Garden is a wild butterfly breeding and breeding experimental base jointly established by the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve Management Bureau and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It is the first artificial butterfly breeding center in China. Tourists can observe the life process of butterflies, from eggs to larvae, pupae to butterflies. Every year, 120000 butterflies of various types are bred and some are released in the scenic area. There are also attractions in the scenic area such as the tropical rainforest sightseeing cableway, tree hotels, and elevated elephant viewing trails. If lucky, you may also be able to see herds of wild elephants strolling through the forest

(II) Transportation and accommodation suggestions

Transportation mode selection:

• Airplane: Airplane is the fastest way to reach Xishuangbanna. There are direct flights from major cities in China to Xishuangbanna, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc. After arriving at Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, you can take the airport bus or taxi to the city center, which takes about 30 minutes
• Long distance bus: From Kunming, you can take a long-distance bus to Xishuangbanna. There are shuttle buses from Kunming Nanyao Bus Station and Kunming West Station to Xishuangbanna, and the journey takes about 8-10 hours. There are also multiple bus stations within Xishuangbanna, such as Jinghong Bus Station and Menghai Bus Station, which provide shuttle buses to various scenic spots
• Taxi/ride hailing service: In the urban area of Xishuangbanna, it is easy to hail a taxi or ride hailing service to various scenic spots. Taxi prices are relatively transparent, while ride hailing services are relatively cheaper. By using ride hailing apps such as Didi Chuxing and Meituan Taxi, it is easy to book a ride and avoid the hassle of stopping a car on the roadside
• Accommodation Recommendations:
• Hotel: The hotel has complete facilities, attentive service, and provides a comfortable accommodation environment. Choose a hotel located in Jinghong city center for convenient access to surrounding attractions. Recommended hotels include InterContinental Jinghong Hotel, Sheraton Xishuangbanna Hotel, etc
• Homestay: Choose a homestay located in Jinghong city, with convenient transportation and complete surrounding facilities, relatively low prices, and the ability to experience local culture, suitable for backpackers and young people. Recommend homestays such as "Dai Family Courtyard" and "Rainforest Experience"
• Youth Hostel: Choose a youth hostel located in Jinghong city to facilitate meeting other travelers. Such as "Xishuangbanna International Youth Hostel" and "Jinghong Youth Hostel"

4. The climate during the Spring Festival in Xishuangbanna is pleasant

(1) Climate characteristics

Under the influence of tropical monsoon climate, Xishuangbanna is warm and humid during the Spring Festival, with an average temperature of about 18.9 ℃. There is no severe cold in winter here, even during the Spring Festival, people can feel the warmth like spring. This climate makes Xishuangbanna an excellent choice for winter shelter, attracting many tourists to come for vacation

(II) Health and Safety Tips

1. Sunscreen: Xishuangbanna has abundant sunshine and strong ultraviolet rays. Tourists should bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats, and take proper sun protection measures. According to relevant data, the UV index in Xishuangbanna is usually at a high level during the Spring Festival, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can easily lead to skin sunburn
2. Mosquito Control: As a tropical rainforest region, Xishuangbanna has a high incidence of mosquitoes, especially during sightseeing in scenic areas. Remember to prepare anti mosquito liquid or anti mosquito spray to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. According to statistics, there may be several mosquitoes per square meter in the scenic areas of Xishuangbanna
3. Windproof: Check the weather forecast in advance and be prepared. Properly place outdoor items that are susceptible to strong winds, and personnel should reduce their outings and avoid staying under temporary structures or seeking shelter. During the Spring Festival in Xishuangbanna, there may be strong winds, with wind speeds sometimes reaching 5-8 meters per second
4. Prevention of diseases:
• Prevention of respiratory infectious diseases: Wash hands frequently after going out, returning, or coming into contact with public objects or dirty things; Wear masks when taking public transportation or entering crowded places; Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; Keep the indoor and outdoor environment clean and open windows for ventilation every day; Try to avoid going to crowded and poorly ventilated areas as much as possible; Vaccination is the most economical and effective means of preventing infectious diseases
• Prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: Avoid catching a cold and prevent colds; Wake up slowly in the morning, refer to the three "3 minutes". Wake up in the morning, lie flat for 3 minutes to rest, slowly get up and lean against the bed for 3 minutes, put on clothes and sit on the edge of the bed for 3 minutes, then stand up and get out of bed to move around; Eat a balanced diet and have regular bowel movements. Take medication on time and follow medical advice. Maintaining a calm mindset is crucial
• Prevention of digestive diseases: Follow the three character code of prevention: "eat cooked food, drink boiled water, and wash hands frequently". Keep clean, wash hands before and after meals, and during cooking. The kitchen and food storage areas should be insect and rodent proof, and pets should not play in the kitchen. Separate raw and cooked materials, and use cutting boards, knives, and utensils separately. Boil until fully cooked, the general principle is to boil for 10-15 minutes, with larger pieces of meat taking longer. Maintain a balanced and regular diet, avoid overeating and consuming excessive amounts of oily, spicy, and stimulating foods, as well as high sugar beverages. Pay attention to food safety, purchase fresh and hygienic ingredients, thoroughly clean fruits and vegetables, and follow hygiene principles for food storage and handling. Control alcohol consumption and avoid drinking on an empty stomach or mixed drinks. If symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort occur, seek medical attention promptly
5. Prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning: Be careful when using carbon stoves. Coal stoves must have chimneys, unobstructed flues, complete combustion, and regular ventilation and air exchange; Gas water heaters should be of the strong exhaust type and cannot be installed in enclosed spaces such as bathrooms; Regularly inspect gas pipelines and switches, and if aging or damage is found, promptly hire a dedicated person to repair them; Do not sleep in a car with the doors and windows closed and the air conditioning on, especially when the car is parked in a relatively enclosed environment such as a garage
6. Preventing traffic injury accidents:
• Driving: Eliminate drunk driving and fatigue driving, fasten seat belts, wear helmets when driving electric vehicles/motorcycles, observe intersections more, and slow down when encountering pedestrians
• Riding: Do not ride in overcrowded or freight vehicles, do not ride in drunk drivers' cars, do not sit in the passenger seat for children, do not extend your head or hands outside the car, and fasten your seat belt when riding

Fifth, Recommended Classic Spring Festival Tourist Routes in Xishuangbanna

(1) Urban Route

Urban Route can be described as a fusion of culture and nature. First of all, let's go to the General Assembly, which is the center of Buddhist worship for believers in Xishuangbanna. The overall history is long, the architecture is magnificent and spectacular, and the golden roof is brilliant, demonstrating the solemnity and sacredness of * *. Here, tourists can experience a strong religious atmosphere and appreciate the profoundness of * * culture

Dong Bo * * * is a new building restored and rebuilt on the original site of the royal temple "Jing Piao * *" in the ancient Dai Dynasty, built according to the national AAAA level scenic spot. The ticket price is 120 yuan. The Da Jin Pagoda has a diameter of about 60 meters and a height of about 80 meters. It consists of a main tower, 8 auxiliary towers, and 16 small towers. It is the largest Jin Pagoda in Southeast Asia and a landmark building in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna. Tourists can first take a sightseeing bus to the top of the mountain, which can maintain their physical strength and not fall behind any of the visiting points. At the mountaintop, you can take a photo with the Golden Pagoda. The dragon heads on both sides of the hall clean your hands, wash away all your troubles, and then touch the Pixiu next to you. Everything goes smoothly. Walk on the glass walkway and overlook the whole Jinghong urban area, enjoying the ancient and modern culture. There are also water splashing carnival and peacock flying activities in the scenic area

The ticket price of Ethnic Cultural Paek is 20 yuan, which shows the rich and colorful ethnic customs of Xishuangbanna. Tourists can enjoy the song and dance performances of ethnic minorities such as Dai, Hani, and Bulang, and learn about their traditional culture and way of life. You can also visit exhibitions of ethnic architecture and handicrafts

(II) Northern Route

The journey on the Northern Route is full of the charm of nature and culture. Wild Elephant Valley is the only scenic spot in China where wild Asian elephants can be safely observed, with a ticket price of 60 yuan. The scenic area covers an area of 5.17 square kilometers, 22 kilometers away from Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, and 10 kilometers away from Mengyang Town. Wild Elephant Valley belongs to the humid monsoon climate of the northern and southern subtropical regions, with a hot climate and distinct dry and wet seasons. The main attractions here include Butterfly Farm, White Bird Garden, Asian Elephant Museum, etc. Tourists can watch elephant parades, elephant science popularization, and get a close-up view of Asian elephants at Elephant School, including demonstrations of how elephants eat, weight and length measurements, and more