Xishuangbanna: Tropical Tour

2. Must visit attractions

(1) Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the largest tropical botanical garden in China, with abundant tropical plant resources, like a green treasure trove. Various exotic flowers are blooming in the park, with strange flowers and fruits hanging on the branches. At this time, the red or yellow fruit of the bean paste fruit hangs on the branch, and the mature bean paste fruit is a bright red color with a sweet and rustling sensation when tasted. Micro concave cherry looks like a cherry but is larger, with a longitudinal crack and a pink color; After ripening, the eggplant has a golden color, like uniquely shaped golden fruits; The fruit of Sakura Kirin is shaped like an inverted cone with a circular ring at the bottom, which is very unique and beautiful; The above ground stems and leaves of the konjac have withered, leaving only fruit stalks over one meter tall standing on the ground. There are also four species of leguminous flowering trees in full bloom in the garden, and phoenix trees are full of enthusiasm and passion; The tree shape of Fenhua Mountain Lentil resembles Phoenix Wood, and when the flowering period is over, the branches are filled with pink flowers; The golden yellow flowers on the shield pillar form an upright and upward cone-shaped inflorescence, blooming brilliantly and dazzlingly; The golden flowers of the sausage tree form a large drooping inflorescence, shining brilliantly

(II) Wild Elephant Valley

Wild Elephant Valley is the only place in China where wild Asian elephants can be observed up close. The forest here is dense, with frequent sightings of Asian wild elephants, as well as amphibians such as wild monkeys, bison, green peacocks, and black bears. You don't need to buy a round-trip cableway ticket to go to Wild Elephant Valley. You can enter the park from the western district and hike to the tail of the cableway, where you can enjoy the tropical rainforest scenery and possibly see wild elephants along the way. There are also elephant canteens and elephant schools in the park where you can interact with elephants. Rainforest herders can stroll with elephants in the rainforest and feed them fruits. There are elephants performing at different times every day, and they are trained to perform. It looks very pitiful, but when they perform, they naturally make calls and feel happy

(III) Manting Park

Manting Park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna and is known as the "Royal backyard of the Dai ethnic group". The park was originally owned by the Dai king of Xishuangbanna. It not only displays luxurious Dai royal palaces, but also cultivates many rare and exotic flowers. Its rich Southeast Asian style and tropical rainforest landscape are extremely attractive. The park covers an area of over 400 acres and is rich in vegetation. Highlights include Dai royal architecture and imperial gardens, suitable for photography; Elephant and parrot performances, suitable for all age groups; The night singing and dancing bonfire party on the Mekong River allows you to deeply experience Dai culture; Personally try the traditional pottery making techniques of the Dai ethnic group and learn authentic skills. The required check-in spots and routes include Dai Wang Palace → Imperial Garden → City Tower → Twin Towers → White Pagoda → Earth Goddess. The pure play route is as follows: Dai King Palace → Imperial Garden → Imperial Orchid Garden → City Tower → Leaf Garden → Twin Towers → Octagonal Corridor Bridge → Waterfront Corridor → Parrot Paradise → Imperial Elephant Garden → White Tower → Earth Goddess → Theater

(IV) Dai Garden

Dai Garden is the best place to experience Dai culture and learn about Dai history. There are five of the most primitive natural villages here, and the filming location of the TV drama "Debt of Sin" is the thousand year old Manchun Mangu Buddhist Pagoda. Tourists can participate in large-scale water splashing activities, interact with local Dai people, and fully enjoy the Water Splashing Festival. The Dai ethnic park will have two water splashing sessions at 13:30 and 15:30. In addition, you can also visit Dai ethnic dwellings, taste delicious meals, and watch song and dance performances. In order to enhance the hardware facilities of the scenic area and meet the increasingly diverse needs of tourists, the scenic area has created a new water splashing new area, which is more spacious and well-equipped, providing tourists with a more comfortable and safe travel experience. The New District Water Splashing Square can be reached by walking about 300 meters from the west gate of the scenic area. The square is elliptical in shape, and the terrain gradually slopes from the periphery to the center, forming a natural pool. The Songshui New Area emphasizes the combination of functionality and aesthetics, and has added various entertainment facilities while expanding its area

(V) Wangtianshu Scenic Area

Wangtianshu Scenic Area is famous for its unique aerial corridor, which allows visitors to experience the mystery and magnificence of tropical rainforests in thrilling and exciting situations. There are hotels, aerial corridors (including canopy corridors and glass covered bridges), Nanla River sightseeing boats, adventure trails, jungle crossings, etc. built within the scenic area. The corridor is 500 meters long and is connected between tall sky trees using thick iron ropes. It is suspended with steel ropes, guarded with nylon ropes and nets, and stepped with aluminum alloy ladders. Each section is connected to a wooden platform built on the trunk. The scenic area is relatively niche, so there are not many people, and you can take a boat to enjoy the scenery of Nanla River. There is a 36 meter high canopy corridor here that you can experience and it is also a must visit attraction. There will also be drones shooting panoramic videos, and the overall difficulty of the rainforest hiking route is low, suitable for the elderly and children. Here, you can also experience rainforest kayaking, water flying fish, banana boats, all terrain vehicles and other projects

III. Featured Cuisine

(1) Pineapple Purple Rice

Pineapple Purple Rice is a traditional dish with a strong Dai ethnic flavor in Xishuangbanna. When making, soak the purple glutinous rice in pineapple shells and then steam it. The sourness and sweetness of the pineapple combine with the softness and stickiness of the purple glutinous rice, and every bite brings a happy taste. Its production is simple yet delicious, just a whole pineapple, remove the handle and long pointed leaves, cut off the top pineapple cover, take out the pineapple core, soak the purple glutinous rice for 7 hours in the pineapple shell, cover it with the pineapple cover, and cook until the aroma is strong. Pineapple fruit has excellent quality and rich nutrition, containing a large amount of fructose, glucose, vitamin B C， Substances such as phosphorus, citric acid, and protease. Purple rice has the effects of nourishing blood and qi, warming the spleen and stomach, and has certain therapeutic effects on symptoms such as stomach cold and pain, quenching thirst, and frequent nocturia. Purple rice rice is fragrant, oily, soft and delicious, with high nutritional and medicinal value. It has the effects of nourishing blood, strengthening the spleen, and treating neurasthenia. Pineapple purple rice rice is both a staple food and a dish, with multiple flavors brought by its dual identity, leaving a lasting impression

(II) Lemon Grass Grilled Fish

Lemon Grass Grilled Fish is one of the most famous dishes of the Dai ethnic group. This dish is not complicated to make. Choose a fresh tilapia weighing about 1 catty, wash and dissect it, stuff it with a special "Tomato Rumi" sauce made with tree tomatoes, cilantro, millet chili, garlic, etc., tie it with fragrant grass, clamp it tightly with bamboo slices, and then bake it over charcoal fire. When it's about 80% ripe, apply oil and continue baking for about 5 minutes. A fragrant lemongrass roasted tilapia is ready to be baked. Grilled fish does not have many heavy flavored seasonings added, but is wrapped in fragrant grass with a natural lemon flavor. The grilled fish meat in this way has a crispy and tempting aroma, exceptionally delicious, and can stimulate people's appetite. Tilapia has fast reproduction, high yield, few spines, and fresh meat. It is also rich in protein and amino acids, which can promote brain development, improve vision, and regulate blood pressure. Once introduced, it has been popular among Chinese diners. Citronella has medicinal values such as dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening stomach and eliminating fat, sterilization and detoxification, and can also remove fishy smell and taste from dishes. It has been used as cooking and herbal medicine in South Asia and Southeast Asia for at least five thousand years, and is widely used in Thai Dongyingong Soup, Vietnamese Spring rolls, Indian curry, milk tea and other dishes, as well as in soap and incense. In Yunnan, fragrant thatch is also one of the soul seasonings of Dai flavor. Grilled tilapia with lemongrass is not only a combination of tilapia and fragrant grass, but also a fusion of Yunnan Dai flavor and southern charm

(III) Bamboo tube food

Dai Bamboo tube food, also called fragrant bamboo rice, is a special food with local ethnic flavor in Xishuangbanna. Use fresh bamboo tubes as utensils, fill them with glutinous rice and other ingredients, and grill them over fire. When you open it, the original hot Bamboo tube food gives out a unique taste, which has both rice and bamboo fragrance. It is soft, glutinous, delicious, and is a must for tourists. Bamboo tube food is divided into ordinary Bamboo tube food and fragrant bamboo glutinous rice. Ordinary Bamboo tube food is often cooked by Hani, Lahu, Bulang and Jino people, and most of it is cooked and eaten by themselves during picnics. When cooking fragrant bamboo rice, choose tender bamboo that has grown in the same year, cut it down according to the sections, and leave one bamboo section for each section. Put the high-quality glutinous rice that has been soaked and washed in advance into bamboo joints, add a little water, and then cover the mouth of the bamboo tube with banana leaves. Place it in a charcoal fire or oven and bake it on low heat until the rice is almost cooked. Take out the bamboo joints and beat them a few times, then continue to bake until the rice is fully cooked. When eating, gently strike the bamboo nodes with a knife or wooden hammer to loosen the rice from the inner wall of the bamboo. Peel off the bamboo slices and you can eat. From November to February of the following year, it is the season for harvesting fragrant bamboo in Xishuangbanna, and also a good time to eat fragrant bamboo rice. This fragrant bamboo glutinous rice has a soft and delicate taste, with a layer of white bamboo flesh wrapped around it. Its appearance is like a round dough stick that has been kneaded, and it won't touch your hands when held. The rice not only has the fragrance of bamboo, but also the aroma of baked food. The perfect combination of the two fragrances is mouth watering<

(4) Huoshao Ganba

Huoshao Ganba is the most distinctive snack of the Dai ethnic group, which looks a bit like beef jerky from Xinjiang. Selected premium beef, paired with Yunnan's unique plant spices, grilled using the most primitive grilling method, without excessive greasiness, but instead becomes more fragrant and flavorful as chewed. Although burnt dry food is dry, it is not dry or hot. It uses tender yellow beef as raw material, carefully roasted to present the characteristics of large chunks, crispy and fragrant. When you tear off a piece of roasted beef jerky with your hand and put it in your mouth, as you chew deeper, the aroma gradually spreads, similar to the taste of beef jerky, but with its own unique charm

(V) Baoshao

Dai style Baoshao is a very unique delicacy of the Dai ethnic group in Xishuangbanna. It uses a special cooking method of banana leaves to wrap the food to be cooked and bake it over charcoal fire. During the firing process, banana leaves firmly lock in the moisture and aroma of the food, allowing you to taste the original flavor of the food. Baoshao can be vegetables or meat, and regardless of the type of ingredient, it will have a fresh taste after being packaged. Not only does it retain the most essential taste of the ingredients, but it also carries a subtle fragrance of banana leaves, with a unique flavor. It tastes refreshing and non greasy, and the slight spiciness stimulates the appetite

(VI) Chicken feet pounding

Chicken feet pounding is a delicious cold dish in Banna, which involves putting all the ingredients and ingredients into a mortar and pounding until the chicken feet become soft and tender, then mixing well before serving. It is mainly made by deboning cooked chicken feet and adding ingredients such as chili, lime, onion, coriander, etc. The chicken feet made are sour, spicy, and delicious, very flavorful, and every bite gives a feeling of tough skin and delicious meat. Chicken feet are full of flavor, rich in layers, with tough skin and fragrant meat. In summer, they are sour and appetizing, making them an upgraded version of lemon chicken feet. Although many people may find it difficult to name it when they first encounter it, its unique taste and distinctive name attract countless diners to come and taste it

IV. Featured Accommodation

(1) Recommended Jiangjing Hotels

1 Jiangyu Jiangjing Hotel: 180 ° Jiangjing room with bathtub and free floating afternoon tea

2. Shawanli Sunset River View Hotel: Outside the window is the Lancang River, with good privacy and beautiful scenery

Xishuangbanna Shawanli Sunset River View Zhenxuan Hotel is also located at the Shuangjing Starlight Night Market in Gaozhuang West, 1.7 kilometers away from the city center. Outside the hotel room window is the beautiful Lancang River, with a stunning view. The privacy here is very good, allowing you to enjoy the fun of vacation in a quiet environment. The decoration style of the room is simple and atmospheric, with complete facilities, providing a comfortable accommodation experience for your travel. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset scenery in your room and feel the charm of nature

(II) Recommended Featured Hotels

1 Mekong River Jinglan Hotel: a landmark hotel in the style of Dai Thai Royal Estate

2. Yuechun Hot Spring Resort Hotel: Featuring authentic Southeast Asian design and 21 hot spring pools

3. Anantara Resort: Built to the specifications of the Thai royal family, you can experience the same spa treatment<

The Anantara Resort Hotel is surrounded by vast virgin forests and was built at a cost of around 100 million yuan to the highest standards of the Thai royal family. The hotel has a total of 103 guest rooms and pool villas, with a highly ethnic interior design inspired by lotus flowers. Here, you can experience the same Thai royal spa, allowing you to enjoy your vacation while also taking care of your skin

4. Bodu Sen Oxygen Villa Inn: The top of the line version of the inn, easy to take photos and sleep in

Bodu Sen Oxygen Villa Inn is a top of the line version of the inn, located on the mountainside, with beautiful scenery and quiet tranquility. The decoration style of the inn is full of artistic atmosphere, which is very suitable for taking photos. The facilities in the room are complete and the bedding is comfortable, allowing you to enjoy a good sleep here

5. Intercontinental Resort Hotel: Incorporating Dai ethnic characteristics, with large areas of pink buildings made of bean paste

6. Rongchuang Wanda Resort Hotel: suitable for family vacation, adjacent to Rongchuang Park and Water World

7. Pullman Resort: a high-end brand under Accor, with lush greenery resembling a tropical jungle

8. Yuejingzhuang Flower Room Hall: The room is a standalone villa with a peacock and a first-class ecological environment

9. Wanda Yihua All Suite Hotel: Morandi color French decoration, fragrant aroma

Wanda Yihua All Suite Hotel is located near Mantin Park and features a Morandi color French decoration style, elegant and atmospheric. The fragrance inside the hotel is overwhelming, making you feel a comfortable atmosphere as soon as you enter the hotel. The hotel rooms are designed as full suites with complete facilities, making them very suitable for family travel. The hotel also has a large outdoor swimming pool, allowing you to fully enjoy the fun of swimming while on vacation

V. Travel Guide

(1) Recommended 5-day tour itinerary

On the first day, arrive at Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, check into a hotel in Jinghong City, go to Manting Park in the afternoon, and stroll through the Starlight Night Market in the evening