Yunnan Xishuangbanna: Is it Really China?

This weekly sponsored blog post is brought to you by Country Holidays.

To learn more about tours and packages, please email beijing@countryholidays.com.cn
or call 8587 9263.

I’m in Thailand, but not quite ... This was the feeling Xishuangbanna gave me when I first stepped into this tropical region of China. Located in southern Yunnan, Xishuangbanna has a unique landscape – lush, tropical rainforests contrasting sharply with alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains. Besides the rainforests, Xishuangbanna is also well-known for its exotic plants, pu'er tea, delicious tropical fruits, and most of all, its colorful ethnic minority people. 

Most visitors’ first contact with Xishuangbanna is its provincial capital, Jinghong. Bordering Myanmar and Laos, Jinghong is an important gateway for trade with other Southeast Asian cities. It is a typical Chinese city and there is not much to see and do here. However, it is a good “base” for day trips to the surrounding countryside. 

Many well-known highlights near Jinghong include Menghai, with its pu'er tea plantations; Menglun, famous for its botanical gardens (arguably one of the richest and best on the world); and Damenlong with its Buddhist pagodas.

The highlight of my trip, however, was visiting the many ethnic minority villages. Xishuangbanna is home to a cultural mix of almost one million people - Dai, Han, Hani, and Bulang being the larger ethnic groups. Each group has their own customs, making Xishuangbanna a very colorful and fascinating destination. 

Our trip coincided with the annual water-splashing festival or New Year’s Day of the Dai minority people. Held in mid-April, the festival’s purpose is to “wash away” the bad luck of the old year and welcome the new. It lasts a few days and, like all festivals, it was a visual treat. Parades, fairs, song, dance and boat races are held during the first few days. It culminates in crazed water splashing on the final day and everyone, tourists included, are welcomed to take part. It was all very good fun and a photographer’s delight!

The best part of my visit to Xishuangbanna was that, with a little bit of organizing and planning, we were able to visit many villages that were not on the standard tourist route. Being in Xishuangbanna did not feel like being in China. The locals were dressed in long skirts like the Thai people, they had the complexion of Burmese people, and the grace and gentleness of the Laotians. Agriculture is still the main livelihood and most live in wooden huts with thatched roofs. We spent time exploring the villages and interacting with the locals. What truly captured my attention was the simplicity of life, the friendly, warm smiles on the faces of the locals, and their sincerity. 

Would I visit Xishuangbanna again? The answer is a definite yes. Besides being able to escape the hustle and bustle of Beijing, one can get back to basics and re-learn how to enjoy the simple things in life.

For this tour, please see link: Six Days Pu'er Jingmai & Xishuangbanna – of Tea and Tribes

To learn more about Country Holidays' tours and packages, please email beijing@countryholidays.com.cn, call 8587 9263, or log onto www.countryholidays.com.cn.

Written by: Sharon Heng
Photos: Courtesy of Country Holidays