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How to have fun in Xishuangbanna for 3 days and 2 nights, a comprehensive itinerary planning guide!

# Xishuangbanna

Travellers Magicians

Sep 18, 2025

Contents

Trip Planner
Xishuangbanna Itinerary Planning Overview
Xishuangbanna Day 1
- Jinuo Village
- Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park
- Wild Elephant Valley
Xishuangbanna Day 2
- Manting Royal Garden
- Xishuangbanna Mengle Cultural Tourism Area
- Xishuangbanna Dai Nationality Park
Xishuangbanna Day 3
- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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This guide is carefully curated for you 3 days 2 nights perfect trip covering local speciality attractions, authentic food and popular shopping areas, so you can easily play around Xishuangbanna, enjoy a worry-free vacation, whether it is an in-depth exploration of history and culture or a fashion check-in in the modern city.

Learn hunting dance in Jinuo Village, feed elephants in Wild Elephant Valley, walk along the skywalk in the primeval forest, and experience the rainforest and ethnic customs simultaneously.
Enjoy a water splashing carnival in the Dai Garden, watch performances at the Dai King's Palace in the Manting Imperial Garden, and check out the exotic Victoria flowers at the Botanical Garden.

Date	Journey
Day 1	Jinuo Village->Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park->Wild Elephant Valley
Day 2	Manting Royal Garden->Xishuangbanna Mengle Cultural Tourism Area->Xishuangbanna Dai Garden
Day 3	Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The Jinuo Mountain Village is located in Baopo Village, Jinuo Township, in the east of Jinghong City. It has been inhabited by the Jinuo people for generations. Here you can not only enjoy the scenery of Jinuo Mountain but also experience the rich Jinuo folk customs. When you come here, you can taste the local barbecue, and you can also see young men and women dressed in Jino costumes singing and dancing with props in hand in the central square of the village, which is magnificent.

Address: 4 km northwest of Jinuo Bus Station, Jinuo Township, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Business hours: Open from 09:00 to 16:20 tomorrow (admission ends at 16:00)

evaluate:

The local guide was very nice. We were the only child in the group. Not only did he help us take care of the child, he also helped us catch crabs. He was a very nice person. The 4km journey was not tiring at all. We participated in various games and activities along the way. The children loved it. It is suitable for children with lively personalities.

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park is located in the east of Jinghong City, north of the Lancang River. It is a primaeval forest. The means of transportation in the park are tour buses. The main attraction is Peacock Villa. When the trainer blows a whistle, hundreds of peacocks fly over the sparkling lake, and the scene is very shocking. The other two stops are Aini Village and the National Performance Center, where you can watch the national song and dance performances and participate in a small water-splashing festival, which is full of national flavor.

Address: Beside National Highway 214, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 18:00 tomorrow (no admission at 17:00)

evaluate:

I visited several scenic spots in Xishuangbanna, among which I think the primaeval forest is more worth visiting. There is the Water Splashing Festival there, and there are many monkeys in the monkey area. I also watched a show. The scenery inside is also quite good and the photos are quite good.

The Wild Elephant Valley is located in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province. It is a place frequently visited by Asian wild elephants, hence the name Wild Elephant Valley. There is a walking trail of more than 4,000 meters in the scenic area, winding through the tropical rainforest. You can stroll along it and feel the atmosphere of the tropical rainforest. Not only can you see rare tropical plants on both sides of the trail, but you can also see footprints left by wild elephants.

Address: Sanchahe, Mengyang Town, Jinghong City, 36 kilometers away from Jinghong City

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 18:00 tomorrow (ticket sales stop at 16:30; admission stops at 16:30)

evaluate:

It is convenient to buy tickets. You can scan the code directly to enter the park, saving time queuing at the gate to buy tickets. The Wild Elephant Valley is very fun. There are many elephants 🐘, and there are elephant shows. You can feed the elephants. It is fun and the children love it.

Manting Royal Garden is located in the southeast of Jinghong City, Yunnan Province. It is a natural village-style park and also a city park with a long history in Xishuangbanna.

In Manting Royal Garden, travellers can visit the vine area and peacock garden to see animals and plants, visit the unique Dai and Thai-style buildings, and watch ethnic minority songs and dance performances at night.

Address: No. 35, Manting Road, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 17:00 tomorrow

evaluate:

Manting Royal Garden is not only the oldest park in Xishuangbanna but also an excellent place to experience Dai culture and Buddhist culture. Whether you want to admire traditional architecture, participate in cultural activities, or enjoy the natural beauty, this is a tourist attraction not to be missed. If you plan to travel to Xishuangbanna, Manting Royal Garden will bring you a rich cultural experience and beautiful natural scenery.

The Big Buddha Temple is one of the iconic buildings of the Twelve Bannas, a symbol of Theravada Buddhism, and is also an important place for Buddhist activities in Banna. It is built on a mountain and has more than 3,000 steps. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the beautiful city of Jinghong City, and you can also carry out Buddhist activities in the temple and experience Buddhist culture. There will be a Water Splashing Festival performance at the foot of the mountain, which has local characteristics.

Address: Mannongfeng, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 18:00 tomorrow (no admission at 17:30)

evaluate:

Mengle Cultural Tourism Area is a cultural tourism area with Buddhism as its theme. There is a water splashing area, peacock releasing area and Jingpiao Buddhist temple area in the scenic area. After entering the scenic area, the water splashing area is on the left. If you don’t have the opportunity to participate in the water splashing activities in the Dai Garden Water Splashing Square, you can experience the feeling of “getting wet and being happy for life” here. To watch the peacock release, you need to wait according to the schedule. You will see more than a hundred peacocks flying from the auspicious Buddha to your side to look for food, which means good luck and fortune. The focus of the park should be the Jingpiao Hall, which was rebuilt on the site of the original Dai king's royal temple, Jingpiao Buddhist Temple. It is based on the life of Sakyamuni Buddha and Buddhist themes. It is recommended to take a sightseeing bus directly to the Zhuangkai Shwedagon Pagoda on the top of the mountain. The golden pagoda under the blue sky is very photogenic. Take a photo at the Golden Pagoda, wash your hands in the golden basin, touch the Pixiu, then go down the 999 steps, worship the auspicious Buddha, visit the Jingpiao Hall and the sacred stone, etc. I believe you will gain a lot.

Xishuangbanna Dai Garden is located in Menghan Town, southeast of Jinghong City. The Dai Park consists of five well-preserved natural Dai villages, namely Manjiang, Manchunman, Manting, Manzha and Manga. No matter which village you walk into, you will see typical Burmese pagodas and traditional Dai bamboo houses, and feel the rich Dai culture.

When you enter the gate of the scenic area, the first thing you see is the Welcoming Square, where you will receive enthusiastic Dai people's welcome dance, singing speeches and sprinkling water for blessings. Then we came to Manchunman Ancient Buddhist Temple, which is one of the ancient Buddhist temples in Xishuangbanna with a history of more than 1,400 years. Once you enter the temple, you can pray to the sound of chanting.

The most grand festival of the Dai people in Xishuangbanna is the Water Splashing Festival. You can feel this lively scene at the Water Splashing Square in the Dai Garden. Here, "every day is Water-Splashing Festival". Hundreds of people gather around the pool, splashing water on each other to wash away dust and sins. Remember to bring a change of clothes.

Address: Ganlanba, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 18:00 tomorrow

evaluate:

The Dai Garden is also a must-visit attraction when visiting Xishuangbanna. There are scenic shuttle buses at various stops in the park where you can choose to get on and off. When there are many people, you need to queue up. If you have good physical strength and plenty of time, you can walk. The Water Splashing Festival is suitable for young people and children. It is best to bring some food and drinks with you to the park.

The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is located in Menglun Town, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna. The garden is divided into two parts: the east area and the west area. The West District is the main attraction, which includes more than 20 specialized botanical gardens, and the most popular among tourists is the "Garden of Exotic Flowers and Plants". The East District is a large area of pristine tropical rainforest, and most areas are paved with viewing trails, suitable for travellers who like hiking.

Address: West Gate, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture

Business hours: Open from 08:00 to 18:00 tomorrow (admission ends at 18:00)

evaluate:

I chose the hottest day of the holiday to go there. It was so hot and there was no shade inside, so I didn't finish the whole walk. I only walked part of it. I was riding in the car the whole time without stopping. The environment was very good and the air was great. It's best to go when it's cooler, then you can still take good photos.