Xishuangbanna Rainforest 3-Day Tour

🌿 Xishuangbanna 3 Days 2 Nights Slow Travel｜Around 2800 RMB per person, venture into the tropical rainforest's green wonderland
In the southernmost Dai homeland of China—Xishuangbanna, time is wrapped by tropical plants, sunlight filters through palm leaves onto red dirt paths, and everything moves at just the right slow pace. A light 3-day, 2-night trip costing less than 3000 RMB per person takes you into a secret realm full of exotic charm and natural spirit.
1: Dazzling first encounter at Gozhuang Night Market + Starlight Night Market
Fly into [Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport] (round-trip tickets about 1600 RMB if purchased in advance), stay at a distinctive Thai-style guesthouse inside Gozhuang Xishuangjing (about 500 RMB for 2 nights). Head straight to [Starlight Night Market] at dusk, one of China’s largest open-air night markets, where thousands of lanterns light up the Mekong Riverbank. Dress in Dai ethnic costume for photos (rental about 40 RMB), every shot looks like a Southeast Asian film scene. Must-try dinner includes Dai hand-grabbed rice, pounded chicken feet, and lemongrass grilled fish, satisfying for about 60 RMB per person.
2: Green blast at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden + Manting Park
In the morning, visit the [Chinese Academy of Sciences Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden] (ticket 80 RMB, electric cart 50 RMB), where you can see the giant water lilies, flower gardens, and banyan trees with aerial roots like a rainforest wonder. It’s recommended to hire a guide (free) to unlock the ecological secrets behind every leaf. In the afternoon, return to the city to check in at [Manting Park] + [Zong Buddha Temple] (combined ticket 40 RMB), once the royal garden of the Dai kingdom, with towering ancient trees and white pagodas with golden tops shining under the blue sky, full of ethnic atmosphere.
3: Encounter forest spirits at Wild Elephant Valley + Return
The last stop is [Wild Elephant Valley] (ticket 60 RMB), walk the elevated walkway through the rainforest, and if lucky, hear the rumble of elephant herds. Optional rainforest elephant herding experience (about 480 RMB/person), where you can feed and bathe baby elephants by hand, super healing (if budget is tight, just enter the park to observe elephants). In the afternoon, return to the city to buy souvenirs: Pu’er tea, Dai brocade, tamarind cake... take tropical memories home.
💰 Budget reference:
Transportation ≈ 1600 | Accommodation ≈ 500 | Food ≈ 400 | Tickets/Experiences ≈ 300 | Shopping reserve ≈ 200
👉 Total: about 2800 RMB
📌 Tips: Best season is November to April (dry season); wear light breathable clothes + mosquito repellent; bargaining at night markets brings surprises!
Xishuangbanna is a green dream hidden at 21°N latitude. Here, the wind blows through palms, and the heart falls into the rainforest. 🌴🐘🌙

Post by RICHARD STEWART | Oct 18, 2025