Xishuangbanna 4 Days 3 Nights Travel Guide (Budget 7000 RMB)
Theme: Tropical Rainforest · Dai Ethnic Style and Exotic Slow Life
Suitable for: Couples/Friends/Families who prefer nature adventure and exotic cultural experiences
💰 Budget Allocation (Total cost for 2 people)
Item
Cost (RMB)
Description
Transportation
2500-3000
Round-trip airfare (off-peak economy class) or high-speed train (Kunming → Xishuangbanna high-speed train 3.5 hours, ticket price 200 RMB/person)
Accommodation
1500-1800
Three nights at a poolside guesthouse/resort hotel
Meals
1000-1200
Dai-style hand-grabbed rice, tropical fruits, Southeast Asian cuisine
Tickets/Experiences
800-1000
Botanical Garden, Wild Elephant Valley, Dai Ethnic Park, etc.
Others
400-600
Car rental, travel photography, night market souvenirs
🌴 Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Jinghong City · First Experience of Dai-Thai Style
Morning
Arrive at Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport, recommended to rent a car or charter a car (about 300 RMB/day for more freedom in later trips).
Manting Park + Grand Buddha Temple (combined ticket 40 RMB/person):
🕌 Check in at the Dai King’s Royal Garden, wear Dai costume for photos (rental 30 RMB/set), make a wish at the Grand Buddha Temple.
Noon
Lunch: "Princess Nan · Southeast Asian Restaurant" (80 RMB per person), try Tom Yum soup and mango sticky rice.
Afternoon
Gaozhuang Xishuangjing (free):
🛕 Visit the Great Golden Pagoda, photograph the White Pagoda reflection, rent a Snoopy electric scooter (30 RMB/hour) for an evening ride.
Dai Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience (50 RMB/person):
🌸 Learn to make Dai paper, carve palm leaf scriptures, or try slow pottery wheel making.
Evening
Starlight Night Market (free):
🌠 Eat pounded chicken feet, bubble tea (50 RMB per person), buy rattan bags, Dai silver jewelry (remember to bargain!).
Accommodation: Stay at Gaozhuang "Mekong Jinglan Hotel" (about 600 RMB/night), rooftop pool overlooking the Lancang River.
Day 2: Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden · Tropical Wonders
Morning
Drive/self-drive or charter to Menglun Town (1-hour drive):
🌿 Chinese Academy of Sciences Tropical Botanical Garden (ticket 80 RMB/person, electric cart 50 RMB/person):
West Zone to photograph giant water lilies (July-October can ride), exotic flowers garden; East Zone hike strangler figs and big roots.
Noon
Lunch: "Water Lily Hotel" inside the botanical garden (60 RMB per person), try Dai-style grilled tilapia.
Afternoon
Dai Ethnic Park (ticket 65 RMB/person):
💦 Join the water-splashing carnival (daily 13:30/15:30), rent basin + costume 30 RMB/set.
🏡 Visit Manchunmangu Ancient Buddha Temple, experience Dai bamboo stilt house life.
Evening
Riverside Night Market (more local than Starlight Night Market):
🍢 Eat lemongrass grilled fish, pineapple rice (40 RMB per person), shop for handmade tie-dye fabrics.
Day 3: Wild Elephant Valley + Jino Mountain Village · Rainforest Exploration
Morning
Wild Elephant Valley (ticket 60 RMB/person):
🐘 Walk the high-altitude elephant viewing plank road, chance to see wild elephant herds (best time 8:00-10:00).
🌳 Experience "Rainforest Elephant Herding" (198 RMB/person), walk, feed, and take photos with elephants.
Noon
Lunch: Wild Elephant Valley "Elephant Meal" (50 RMB per person), fruit platter + sticky rice in bamboo tube.
Afternoon
Jino Mountain Village (ticket 160 RMB/person):
🪘 The last officially recognized ethnic minority in China, watch big drum dance, taste bitter bamboo shoot soup.
Evening
Accommodation: Choose "Anantara Resort" (about 800 RMB/night), drink Lao beer by the pool.
Day 4: Manyuan Village · Slow Life Before Departure
Morning
Manyuan Village (mushroom house from "The Life I Long For", ticket 20 RMB/person):
🍄 Check in at the same Dai village as the show, experience rubber tapping, make Dai sticky rice cakes (30 RMB/person).
Noon
Lunch: Village entrance "Dai Family Joy" (40 RMB per person), eat wild vegetable platter, grilled pork belly.
Afternoon
Shopping before departure:
🛍️ Small grain coffee (50 RMB/bag), Pu'er tea (100-300 RMB/cake, avoid buying overpriced tea in scenic spots).
🥭 Tropical fruits: durian (25 RMB/jin), mango (5 RMB/jin), can be shipped.
💡 Practical Tips
Transportation Pitfalls:
Parking is difficult at Wild Elephant Valley, recommend arriving early or taking the scenic shuttle bus (40 RMB/person round trip from Jinghong city).
Dressing Suggestions:
Wear sun-protective clothing and hat during the day, change into Dai costume in the evening (night market set only 60 RMB).
Festival Specials:
Water Splashing Festival (mid-April): book rooms 1 month in advance, join city-wide water splashing.
Water Lantern Festival (November): release sky lanterns, watch flower float parades.
Total Cost Reference: About 6500-7000 RMB for two people, enjoy the "Southeast Asia Style Backyard Garden"! 🌺
(If budget allows, add "Mengyuan Wonderland" rainforest hiking or "Daluo China-Myanmar border" day trip)
KG. Cal 36197