Day 1 → → Xishuangbanna ★Assembly Day (Airport Pickup and Check-in - Free Attention)
All day
First visit to Banna | 24-hour worry-free airport/station pick-up
Today is the gathering day. Tourists from all over the country will proceed to Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport or Xishuangbanna Railway Station on their own. Upon arrival, a complimentary 24-hour shuttle service is provided. Your dedicated driver will take you to your hotel for check-in. Our hotel is located in Gaozhuang, within walking distance of the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mekong River Starlight Night Market. It's a small hotel with a swimming pool, all the amenities, and a quiet location amidst the bustle—just the kind of place a product manager would love.
We will not be arranging any itinerary activities today, leaving you plenty of time to freely experience the tropical charm of Xishuangbanna. We recommend that you rest early today to recharge your batteries and be fully refreshed for tomorrow's itinerary. (The following are recommended free activities)
Free activity suggestion 1: Manting Park, the royal garden of the Dai King, is located in downtown Jinghong. If you time it well, you can see parrot and elephant performances (tourists who can arrive in the afternoon may consider this);
Free activity suggestion 2: Gaozhuang Night Market, divided into the Starlight Night Market, the Market and the Riverside Night Market. Visit the Mekong River Starlight Night Market, linger in the riverside bars, enjoy the night breeze and sip cold beer. Of course, you must also try the various Jinghong delicacies. Don't forget to have a cup of local arabica coffee after your meal.
How to get to Banna?
Jinghong is the capital of Xishuangbanna, which is what we often call Xishuangbanna. The collection hotel is located in the urban area of Jinghong, and the airport (Gasa Airport) is in the suburbs of Jinghong, about 7 kilometers away from the urban area.
Direct flight to Banna (recommended). For tourists with limited time, direct flight is an option;
Transfer in Kunming. There are relatively many flights from various places to Kunming. There are more than 20 flights from Kunming to Banna every day, which can be combined at will;
Day 2: Gaozhuang → Zongfo Temple → Prajna Temple → Dai Garden
·morning
In the morning, sleep until you wake up naturally. After having breakfast at the hotel, contact the master at the right time to visit [Sobutsuji Temple] and [Prajna Temple].
Visit Sobutsuji Temple | Buddhist Baptism Bath
First, visit the "Banna Buddhist Sacred Site" [Zongfo Temple] to pray and worship. Zongfo Temple is the center of Buddhist worship in Xishuangbanna and a sacred place for worship. The temple is majestic, with each corner unique and the intricately carved beams and pillars are a true delight to behold.
Prajna Temple | Elegant Temple
Then we visited the Prajna Temple. The history of this pagoda can be traced back to the long-ago period of Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty. The silver pagoda is silver-white, symbolizing endless holiness and majesty. It stands on the top of a mountain in Manzhen Village, a suburb of Jinghong City, overlooking the entire city. You can also see the golden Buddha of the Big Buddha Temple on the mountain in the distance and the clouds and mist of Jinghong.
·afternoon
Experience the water splashing carnival in the indigenous village of Dai Nationality Park
The Dai Garden is a representative Dai village in Xishuangbanna, showcasing Dai history, culture, architecture, and costumes. The Dai people love, love, and revere water, earning them the nickname "the Water People." Today, we stayed at the Dai Garden and, after a short rest, headed to the Water Splashing Square to join in the water splashing carnival. To the cheerful rhythm of the Dai Di, we splashed water on each other to express our wishes and experience the atmosphere of the Water Splashing Festival, even during non-holiday times.
We've prepared disposable towels, waterproof phone bags, and washbasins for everyone to enjoy. If you'd rather not participate, you can head to the North Gate and take the popular train to see the lotus blossoms (only in summer).
·night
Check in to a 5-diamond resort hotel near the Dai Garden. Complimentary dinner at the Golan Hotel.
Day 3: Dai Garden → Fruit Farm → Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences
All day
Become a fruit hunter and experience the magic of tropical fruits
Depart at the right time for a fruit farm, where the owner cultivates over 80 varieties of tropical fruit. In addition to the common mangoes, pineapples, and bananas, there are also lesser-known fruits such as miracle fruit, sugar apples, goat's milk apples, and sapodillas. Eight to 12 different varieties are available each season. Follow the farm staff into the fields to learn about the cultivation and growth of various fruits. See how they grow hanging from the trees instead of lying in boxes. Pick and eat ripe fruit immediately, fully enjoying its freshness and experiencing fruit freedom. Upon returning from the orchard, enjoy a fruit feast and marvel at the bounty of tropical produce.
Special note: You can eat as much fruit as you want in the fruit farm, but if you want to take some fruit away, you will need to pay extra. Please negotiate the price with the owner of the fruit farm.
Day trip to the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden to learn about the amazing phenomena of tropical plants
Then, head to the 5A-rated Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A CAS botanical and zoological guide will guide you through the garden's "West Zone" for a true encounter with the tropical rainforest. Be amazed by towering "giant buttress roots," the brutal and thrilling "strangler plants," the majestic "one-tree forest," the colorful "hanging gardens," the bizarre "old stem blossoms," and the swirling "giant vines" that dance through the forest. See the ever-changing colors of "exotic flowers," the sweet and sour "miracle fruit," the swaying "dancing grass," the punctual "clock flowers," and the chilling "bloodthirst." (P.S.: The explanations here are fascinating, but exploring on your own will only partially capture your imagination. If you're struggling, combine walking with a battery-powered sightseeing bus for a relaxing tour.)
<Today's Featured Hotels>
Standard: Wanglian Hotel (4 diamonds on Ctrip)
If it were a hardware-focused hotel, it might struggle to even achieve a four-diamond rating. Opened in 2004, it's a bit older, but its location makes up for it. Nestled in the heart of the western section of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (5A), surrounded by a variety of rare flowers and trees, you'll enjoy the garden's splendor. If you want to wake up in a botanical kingdom, this is the only hotel you can choose. (Highly recommended. The Wanglian Hotel is the only hotel within the botanical garden, and rooms are limited, especially during holidays, so please book early.)
Day 4: Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences → Airport transfer in Xishuangbanna ★ Dismissal day
All day
Enjoy the tranquility of the morning and absorb negative oxygen ions
When you wake up in the morning, you will find yourself in a tropical forest, free to move around and enjoy the negative oxygen ions. Tourists who have experienced it say that there is so much oxygen that you won’t feel tired even when running in the morning.
End of the trip, transfer to the airport and disband
Leave at the appropriate time and arrive at Xishuangbanna Airport at approximately 11:30 [disbanding] (please book flights departing at 13:00 or later. If flights are difficult to find during this time, please contact customer service to seek an earlier option to arrive at the airport).
