Make a wish under the starlight, seek elephants in the rainforest, in the green fairyland at 21°N latitude

【3 days 2 nights, about 5800 RMB per person! Xishuangbanna Guide: Tropical Rainforest · Dai Ethnic Style Southern Adventure】

Day 1: Fly to **Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport** (direct flights from Kunming/Chengdu/Guangzhou, round-trip ticket about 2400 RMB), take a taxi to check in at a distinctive guesthouse inside Gozhuang Xishuangjing, such as 【Mekong Jinglan】 or the designer hotel 【Anantara】 (breakfast included, 1600 RMB/night × 2 = 3200 RMB). In the evening, visit the 【Starlight Night Market】—Asia’s largest night market, wear Dai costumes for photos, check in at the rainbow stairs, enjoy Dai-style barbecue, pounded chicken feet, and Laotian iced coffee; the night scene is dreamlike and magical.

Day 2: Spend the whole day at the 【Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences】 (entrance 80 RMB + electric cart 50 RMB)—China’s largest tropical plant kingdom, see giant water lilies, hundred-meter tall canopy trees, and exotic flowers and plants. In the afternoon, head to 【Wild Elephant Valley】 (entrance 65 RMB + one-way cable car 70 RMB), explore the high-altitude plank road to track Asian elephants, watch the elephant school performance (view animal interactions rationally). Optional experiences include jungle zip-lining or rainforest hiking (about 150 RMB).

Day 3: In the morning, visit 【Manting Park + Grand Buddha Temple】 (entrance 40 RMB)—the Dai King’s royal garden, with white pagodas and parrots; walk to the 【Dai Ethnic Garden】 (entrance 65 RMB), join the water-splashing carnival (fixed daily sessions), and feel the passion of the “Oriental Carnival.” Before returning, you can buy Pu’er tea, Dai brocade, and tropical dried fruits as souvenirs.

💰Budget breakdown:
Airfare 2400 + taxi/car rental 600 + accommodation 3200 + meals 600 + tickets and activities about 300 + other reserves 300 ≈ **5800 RMB**

📌Tips:
- Parking is difficult in Gozhuang, it’s recommended to stay at hotels with shuttle service;
- Wear quick-dry clothes for the water-splashing event and bring waterproof bags;
- Must-try foods: lemongrass grilled fish, pineapple rice, nanmi, coconut jelly.

⚠️Avoid pitfalls:
❌ Many “low-price one-day tours” at the night market have traps, choose official platforms;
❌ Refuse inhumane activities like elephant riding or feeding wild animals.

Three days and two nights, step into Xishuangbanna. This is not a tropical copy, but a real Dai homeland where peacocks dance and drums echo. Come here, make a wish under the starlight, seek elephants in the rainforest—in the green fairyland at 21°N latitude, start a Southeast Asian dream belonging to Yunnan.

Post by Lucian~lucas | Oct 24, 2025