Day 1 Various locations → → → Jinghong ★ Gathering day
All day
Today is a full-day gathering day, and tourists from all over the country will arrive at the gathering hotel to check in on their own.
Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, is a small frontier town steeped in Southeast Asian charm, serving as a filming location for numerous Southeast Asian-themed television series. Nestled on the banks of the Lancang River, the town is immersed in lush greenery. If you're traveling from a bustling city, be prepared for the uniquely relaxed, tropical atmosphere. During the day, the streets are bustling with people, but the crowds begin to surge towards dusk. Take advantage of the quiet time by contemplating at Zongfo Temple or exploring the Dai King's Imperial Garden in the city center, Manting Park. In the evening, the Starlight Night Market shimmers with lights, while you linger in a riverside bar. Afterward, don't forget to enjoy a cup of local arabica coffee.
How to get to Banna
The meeting hotel is in Gaozhuang, about 9km away from the airport (Gasa Airport), and the drive takes about 25 minutes.
1. Direct flight to Banna: For tourists with limited time, you can choose direct flight;
2. Transfer in Kunming: There are more than 20 flights between Kunming and Banna every day. You can choose to transfer in Kunming, which saves both time and cost.
3. Kunming-Banna High-speed Train: High-speed trains are now available from Kunming to Banna, taking about 4 hours. There are many trains running daily. Please check the specific train schedule and prices in real time.
Day 2 Jinghong → Tropical Rainforest → Dai Garden
·morning
Hiking in the rainforest to explore exotic flowers and plants, and unleash your nature in the wilderness kitchen and jungle tree landing
High heat and humidity are the primary climate characteristics of tropical rainforests, driving rapid plant growth. Even a jungle path, traversed daily, can feel mysterious thanks to the lush vegetation. Fresh plants lining the path might be less than a month old. The towering trees of the rainforest make us realize how insignificant we are in the face of nature. Following a local guide, we journeyed into the rainforest trails to experience the mystery of the pristine forest and discover its exotic flora.
After the hike, change your perspective and choose a giant banyan tree. With the help of specialized gear, climb up to a bird's-eye view of the ground below. Then, descend from the sky and unleash your inner nature in the primeval forest on an unforgettable jungle rappelling adventure. Finally, enjoy a unique rainforest feast. Following the simple and environmentally friendly tradition of local ethnic minorities, wrap food in banana leaves and other green leaves for an ancient jungle feast.
·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.
Free time in the Dai Garden to experience Dai life
After the water splashing activity, you'll have free time within the Dai Garden. You can visit the Dai houses and immerse yourself in Dai life, a fascinating and profound experience. (Traditional Dai clothing can be rented at the village for approximately 50 yuan per set, at your own expense.) Alternatively, you can visit the ancient temples within the village to experience the rich Buddhist culture. The Dai Garden boasts four Buddhist temples: Manjiang, Manchunman, Manzha, and Manting. Manchunman and Manting boast over 1,400 years of history. You can also experience Dai intangible cultural heritage within the village, such as slow-wheel pottery making, Zhangha, traditional papermaking, and Dai dance and boxing. (These experiences are not included in the price and range from 10 to 30 yuan per item. It's affordable and simple, so it's worth choosing a few that you enjoy.)
Day 3: Dai Garden → Parashorea chinensis → Mengla
·morning
Free time in the Dai Garden and enjoy the tranquility of the village
In the morning, you can set aside some free time to sleep in or wander around the village. In the morning, the Dai Garden is deserted, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility of the place.
·afternoon
Experience the charm of the rainforest from all angles: Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest National Park, Wangtianshu Scenic Area
Depart at the perfect time for the Wangtianshu Scenic Area, where you'll experience the tropical rainforest from all angles – water, land, and air. Upon arrival, embark on a boat trip along the Nanla River, known as the "Amazon of the East." From the Bubang Rainforest Pier to the Wangtianshu Rainforest Pier, the 4.3-kilometer Nanla River meanders through the area. Layers of lush tropical rainforest on both sides, along with the unique rainforest vegetation growing within the water, create a breathtakingly beautiful scene, instantly immersing you in the rainforest's atmosphere.
Before officially entering the rainforest, we'll pass a roughly 1km long Flower Avenue, home to a dazzling display of tropical flowers you'll never see before. We'll then reach the Sky Canopy Walkway, where a 34-meter-high suspension bridge, constructed from the trunks of dozens of 40- to 70-meter-tall Parashorea chinensis trees, offers panoramic views of the rainforest. After exiting the canopy walkway, we'll return to the Philip Trail and Cai Xitao Trails, traversing the rainforest and witnessing trickling streams flowing through the dense forest, towering Parashorea chinensis trees, and other rainforest wonders like buttress roots and strangler trees.
Day 4 Mengla Full Day
·morning
Kayaking on the Nanla River: a different way to experience the rainforest
In winter, the Nanla River is a turquoise green, and the rainforests along its banks remain lush and verdant. The temperature difference between morning and evening often creates a layer of advection mist on the river surface, seemingly hanging between the rainforests. Take a leisurely kayak across the calm waters, weaving through the trees on both sides. At the end of the kayak, take a photo with the rainforest and enjoy the refreshing morning.
Feel the fireworks at the local morning market and experience the local food culture
The vibrant atmosphere of a city is concentrated in the morning market. In many areas of Yunnan, markets or fairs are held on fixed days for the exchange of goods. Every Saturday, Manlongle Village, on the outskirts of Mengla, holds a fair, and we'll participate (on non-Saturdays, the local farmers' market takes over). Here, you'll find a dazzling array of exotic foods you might never have seen before. You'll chat with the locals, learn about various wild vegetables and their preparation, and marvel at their culinary imagination. You'll also have the opportunity to purchase some ingredients for your afternoon visit to the home of an intangible cultural heritage teacher.
·afternoon
Visit the family of an intangible cultural heritage inheritor and learn the elephant-foot drum dance to experience Dai culture firsthand
The Elephant Foot Drum Dance is a cultural symbol of the Dai people, combining the characteristics of martial arts and dance, with a blend of strength and gentleness, rich in ethnic charm. It has been designated a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the afternoon, we will visit a small courtyard in the suburbs of Mengla to visit the inheritor of the Elephant Foot Drum Dance. We will then carry an elephant foot drum and learn the form, sounds, momentum, martial arts, and dance of the Elephant Foot Drum Dance. After the class, we will personally carve a palm leaf manuscript and craft a Dai daliao (a daliao) from bamboo strips, both of which we will take home as souvenirs of our visit.
Participate in dinner cooking and learn about ethnic flavors
The Dai people skillfully combine a variety of tropical ingredients to create a unique flavor profile that's sour, spicy, refreshing, and perfectly suited to the local climate. Join a family of intangible cultural heritage inheritors as they explore the fields to harvest tropical spices. See how they use Yunnan ingredients and spices in their cuisine. If you're interested, join them in making a Dai meal and learn a simple yet distinctive Dai recipe or two.
Day 5: Mengla → Fruit Manor → Jinghong ★ Disbandment
·morning
Be a fruit hunter and experience the magic of tropical fruits at the fruit farm
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.
·afternoon
Send you to the airport/station and say goodbye at the end of your trip
We will depart at the appropriate time and will be picked up at Xishuangbanna Station around 15:00. We will then arrive at Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport around 15:30 for a group drop-off. For the return train, please book a train after 16:00 or a flight after 17:00. Please relax this policy during holidays. If you need to continue to Jinghong City, the group will be dispersed near Manting Park.
