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{{pagebanner|Wikivoyage banner of Xishuangbanna Zhou.jpg}}
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'''Xishuangbanna''' (often just '''Banna''' is used; Chinese: 西双版纳; Lü: ᧑᧒ ᦗᧃ ᦓᦱ) is an autonomous prefecture in the south of [[Yunnan]], near the [[Thailand|Thai]], [[Laos|Laotian]], [[Vietnam|Vietnamese]] and [[Myanmar|Burmese]] borders. The ethnic groups and the local languages in this area are more Southeast Asian than Chinese.
'''Xishuangbanna''' (often just '''Banna''' is used; Chinese: 西双版纳; Lü: ᧑᧒ ᦗᧃ ᦓᦱ) is an autonomous prefecture in the south of [[Yunnan]], near the [[Thailand|Thai]], [[Laos|Laotian]], [[Vietnam]]ese and [[Myanmar|Burmese]] borders. The ethnic groups and the local languages in this area are more Southeast Asian than Chinese.
[[File:Xishuangbanna.png|thumb|200px|Position within Yunnan]]
[[File:Xishuangbanna.png|thumb|200px|Position within Yunnan]]
The region is a very popular destination for Chinese tourists. It offers most of the attractions of Thailand — warm climate, tropical fruits and flowers, elephants, prostitutes (legal in Thailand, illegal in China), jungle treks, cultural diversity, and a reasonably well-established tourist industry — without the complications of a border or different language and currency.
The region is a very popular destination for Chinese tourists. It offers most of the attractions of Thailand — warm climate, tropical fruits and flowers, elephants, jungle treks, cultural diversity, and a reasonably well-established tourist industry — without the complications of a border or different language and currency.


For other tourists, especially backpackers, the region serves as stop on the [[Banana Pancake Trail]]; it is on a major route between [[China]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. No matter who you are, the area is a major tourist destination.
For other tourists, especially backpackers, the region serves as stop on the [[Banana Pancake Trail]]; it is on a major route between [[China]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. No matter who you are, the area is a major tourist destination.


==Understand==
==Understand==
"Xishuangbanna" is a Dai language, "Xishuang" means twelve, "Banna" means an administrative unit that provides feudal taxes (literally translated as "twelve thousand rice fields"), and actually refers to twelve administrative regions.
"Xishuangbanna" is a name from the Dai language, "Xishuang" means twelve, "Banna" means an administrative unit that provides feudal taxes, and actually refers to twelve administrative regions.

The Xishuangbanna region has the best-preserved tropical ecosystem in China, with the only [[Tropical rainforests|tropical rainforest]] in China. It is a nature reserve, a member of the United Nations Biodiversity Conservation Circle, and an observation point for [[Sustainable travel|sustainable tourism]] development of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. It has one-sixth of all plant species and one quarter of all animal species in China. Xishuangbanna is the second largest natural rubber production base in China, the origin of large-leaf tea, and the hometown of Pu-erh tea.



The Xishuangbanna region has the best-preserved tropical ecosystem in China, with [[Tropical rainforests|tropical rainforest]]s. It is a nature reserve, a member of the United Nations Biodiversity Conservation Circle, and an observation point for [[Sustainable travel|sustainable tourism]] development of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. It has one-sixth of all plant species and one quarter of all animal species in China. Xishuangbanna is the second largest natural rubber production base in China, the origin of large-leaf tea, and the hometown of Pu-erh tea.


{{climate chart
{{climate chart
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|clear=right
|clear=right
}}
}}

===People===
Xishuanbanna is a very ethnically diverse region, with the Dai people forming a plurality. The Dai people share close cultural ties with [[Thailand]], speaking languages in the same family as Thai, and being Theravada Buddhists just like the Thais. Many Thai festivals such as ''Songkran'' and ''Loy Krathong'' are also celebrated by the Dai people. As in Thailand, Songkran is the most important festival in Xishuangbanna, when the streets erupt in a massive water fight.


==Cities==
==Cities==
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==Talk==
==Talk==
As anywhere in China, [[Mandarin]] is the lingua franca used for communication between speakers of different languages. However this area, like most of [[Yunnan]], has several different ethnic groups and most of those have their own language. In Banna, the largest group are the Dai, ethnically and linguistically very similar to Thai people and language.
As anywhere in China, [[Mandarin]] is the lingua franca used for communication between speakers of different languages. However this area, like most of [[Yunnan]], has several different ethnic groups and most of those have their own language. In Banna, the largest group is the Dai. The Dai language in Xishuangbanna is similar to the [[Northern Thailand|northern]] dialects of [[Thai phrasebook|Thai]], but more challenging for speakers of standard Thai (Bangkok dialect) to understand.


==Get in==
==Get in==
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| wikidata=Q3234757
| wikidata=Q3234757
| lastedit=2022-09-29
| lastedit=2022-09-29
| content=There are some flights from several Chinese cities, but much the most frequent are from [[Kunming]]. There are also a few flights from [[Bangkok]]; see [[Jinghong#Get_in]].
| content=There are some flights from several Chinese cities, but much the most frequent are from [[Kunming]]. There are also a few flights from [[Bangkok]]; see [[Jinghong#Get in]].
}}
}}


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| wikidata=Q108417971
| wikidata=Q108417971
| lastedit=2022-10-07
| lastedit=2022-10-07
| content=There are over 20 trains per day from [[Kunming]]. The journey time from Kunming to Jinghong is about 3 to 4 hours.
| content=There are over 20 trains per day from [[Kunming]]. The journey time from Kunming to Jinghong is about 3 to 4 hours. There is also one cross-border train daily from [[Laos]], which stops here at 16:20
}}
}}
The Yuxi-Mohan Railway runs through Xishuangbanna and connects the region to [[Kunming]] and the Laotian border. There are 5 passenger stations in Xishuangbanna. These include 3 stations in [[Jinghong]] as well as one station each in [[Mengla]] and [[Mohan]]. Xishuangbanna's main railway station is the Xishuangbanna Railway Station in Jinghong, which has much more frequent train services than the other stations. As of October 2022, there are not yet any direct train services from [[Laos]], mainly due to Covid-related border restrictions.
The Yuxi-Mohan Railway runs through Xishuangbanna and connects the region to [[Kunming]] and the Laotian border. There are 5 passenger stations in Xishuangbanna. These include 3 stations in [[Jinghong]] as well as one station each in [[Mengla]] and [[Mohan]]. Xishuangbanna's main railway station is the Xishuangbanna Railway Station in Jinghong, which has much more frequent train services than the other stations.


==Get around==
==Get around==
===By bus===
===By bus===
The airport bus can easily reach the city from the airport, and the airport special line No. 1 also passes through the night market and temple attractions. The price is RMB 4. The tourist route can choose ordinary bus and tourist line. Among them, ordinary bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and bus Z21 pass through many tourist attractions, and the price is RMB 3 yuan. Attractions will have corresponding tourist bus lines, most of which are 5 yuan for round trips. Payment methods can be credit card or coin.
The airport bus can easily reach the city from the airport, and the airport special line No. 1 also passes through the night market and temple attractions. The price is ¥4. The tourist route can choose ordinary bus and tourist line. Among them, ordinary bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and bus Z21 pass through many tourist attractions, and the price is RMB ¥3. Attractions will have corresponding tourist bus lines, most of which are ¥5 for round trips. Payment methods can be credit card or coin.
===By taxi===
===By taxi===
The starting price of taxis in Xishuangbanna is 7 yuan (3 kilometers), including 2 yuan fuel surcharge.
The starting price of taxis in Xishuangbanna is ¥7 (3 kilometers), including ¥2 fuel surcharge.
===Bicycle sharing===
===Rent battery cart===
There are many places in Xishuangbanna where you can rent battery cars (or a shared battery car parked on the side of the road). For many local residents, electric cars are one of the main ways to get around.


==See==
==See==
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===Religious sites===
===Religious sites===
As most Dai people are Theravada Buddhists, the main attraction here is the Theravada Buddhist temples, which are very similar in architecture to those in Thailand and Laos.
* {{see
* {{see
| name=Xishuangbanna Zongfo Temple | alt=西双版纳总佛寺 | url= | email=
| name=Xishuangbanna Zongfo Temple | alt=西双版纳总佛寺 | url= | email=
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* {{see
* {{see
| name=Manjinlan Temple | alt=西双版纳曼景兰大佛寺 | url= | email=
| name=Manjinlan Temple | alt=西双版纳曼景兰大佛寺 | url= | email=
| address=[[Jinghong]] | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=[[Jinghong]] | lat=22.000803 | long=100.803423 | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=
| phone= | tollfree=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
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* {{do
* {{do
| name=Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden | alt=中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园 | url=http://english.xtbg.cas.cn/ | email=
| name=Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden | alt=中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园 | url=http://english.xtbg.cas.cn/ | email=
| address=[[Mengla]] | lat=21.873654 | long=101.322832 | directions=
| address=[[Mengla]] | lat=21.916943 | long=101.270424 | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=
| phone= | tollfree=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
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* {{do
* {{do
| name=Manting Imperial Garden | alt=曼听御花园 | url= | email=
| name=Manting Imperial Garden | alt=曼听御花园 | url= | email=
| address=[[Jinghong]] | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=[[Jinghong]] | lat=21.99303 | long=100.8072 | directions=
| phone= | tollfree=
| phone= | tollfree=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
Line 131: Line 134:


==Do==
==Do==
Stay in a Hani village homestay and visit tea plantations, do jungle hikes and try the local foods. 300 yuan per night with three meals included.
Stay in a Hani village homestay and visit tea plantations, do jungle hikes and try the local foods. ¥300 per night with three meals included.


===Eat===
===Eat===
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| content=
| content=
}}
}}
[[File:Mekong Starlight Night Market.jpg|thumb|Mekong Starlight Night Market]]

===Drink===
===Drink===


==Buy==
==Buy==
===Food===
===Food===
'''·Dried fruit'''水果干) - Xishuangbanna is a tropical area, so there are plenty of fresh and dried tropical fruit.
'''·Dried fruit''' (水果干) - Xishuangbanna is a tropical area, so there are plenty of fresh and dried tropical fruit.


===Other===
===Other===
Line 159: Line 162:


==Go next==
==Go next==
The prefecture borders Myanmar and Laos. Buses leave from Jinghong and Mengla to [[Luang Namtha]]. From Jinghong it costs RMB70 and takes 7 hours. Laos visas cost USD40 at the border; two extra passport photos are required.{{IsPartOf|Southern Yunnan}}
The prefecture borders Myanmar and Laos. Buses leave from Jinghong and Mengla to [[Luang Namtha]]. From Jinghong it costs ¥70 and takes 7 hours. Laos visas cost USD40 at the border; two extra passport photos are required.{{IsPartOf|Southern Yunnan}}
{{outlineregion}}
{{outlineregion}}
{{geo|22|100.8|zoom=10}}
{{geo|22|100.8|zoom=10}}

Latest revision as of 05:51, 12 January 2024

Xishuangbanna (often just Banna is used; Chinese: 西双版纳; Lü: ᧑᧒ ᦗᧃ ᦓᦱ) is an autonomous prefecture in the south of Yunnan, near the Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese and Burmese borders. The ethnic groups and the local languages in this area are more Southeast Asian than Chinese.

Position within Yunnan

The region is a very popular destination for Chinese tourists. It offers most of the attractions of Thailand — warm climate, tropical fruits and flowers, elephants, jungle treks, cultural diversity, and a reasonably well-established tourist industry — without the complications of a border or different language and currency.

For other tourists, especially backpackers, the region serves as stop on the Banana Pancake Trail; it is on a major route between China and Southeast Asia. No matter who you are, the area is a major tourist destination.

Understand

[edit]

"Xishuangbanna" is a name from the Dai language, "Xishuang" means twelve, "Banna" means an administrative unit that provides feudal taxes, and actually refers to twelve administrative regions.

The Xishuangbanna region has the best-preserved tropical ecosystem in China, with tropical rainforests. It is a nature reserve, a member of the United Nations Biodiversity Conservation Circle, and an observation point for sustainable tourism development of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. It has one-sixth of all plant species and one quarter of all animal species in China. Xishuangbanna is the second largest natural rubber production base in China, the origin of large-leaf tea, and the hometown of Pu-erh tea.

Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
59
 
 
21
13
 
 
 
44
 
 
23
13
 
 
 
15
 
 
28
16
 
 
 
81
 
 
29
19
 
 
 
142
 
 
29
22
 
 
 
148
 
 
28
24
 
 
 
112
 
 
27
23
 
 
 
126
 
 
27
23
 
 
 
59
 
 
28
22
 
 
 
80
 
 
25
21
 
 
 
66
 
 
24
18
 
 
 
44
 
 
21
13
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
2.3
 
 
70
55
 
 
 
1.7
 
 
73
55
 
 
 
0.6
 
 
82
61
 
 
 
3.2
 
 
84
66
 
 
 
5.6
 
 
84
72
 
 
 
5.8
 
 
82
75
 
 
 
4.4
 
 
81
73
 
 
 
5
 
 
81
73
 
 
 
2.3
 
 
82
72
 
 
 
3.2
 
 
77
70
 
 
 
2.6
 
 
75
64
 
 
 
1.7
 
 
70
55
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

People

[edit]

Xishuanbanna is a very ethnically diverse region, with the Dai people forming a plurality. The Dai people share close cultural ties with Thailand, speaking languages in the same family as Thai, and being Theravada Buddhists just like the Thais. Many Thai festivals such as Songkran and Loy Krathong are also celebrated by the Dai people. As in Thailand, Songkran is the most important festival in Xishuangbanna, when the streets erupt in a massive water fight.

Cities

[edit]
Map
Map of Xishuangbanna
  • 1 Jinghong, capital and main center of the region
  • 2 Mengla
  • 3 Menghai
  • 4 Mohan, small town on the Laotian border

Talk

[edit]

As anywhere in China, Mandarin is the lingua franca used for communication between speakers of different languages. However this area, like most of Yunnan, has several different ethnic groups and most of those have their own language. In Banna, the largest group is the Dai. The Dai language in Xishuangbanna is similar to the northern dialects of Thai, but more challenging for speakers of standard Thai (Bangkok dialect) to understand.

Get in

[edit]

By plane

[edit]
  • 1 Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport (JHG IATA), Gasa Town, Jinghong City, +63 691 215 9130. There are some flights from several Chinese cities, but much the most frequent are from Kunming. There are also a few flights from Bangkok; see Jinghong#Get in. Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport (Q3234757) on Wikidata Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport on Wikipedia

By highway

[edit]

There is a highway south from Kunming into this region, via Pu'er.

By train

[edit]
  • 2 Xishuangbanna Railway Station (西双版纳站) (about 2km from Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport; bus nos. 4, 6, 7, 68 and the Railway Station Express Bus all stop outside the station). There are over 20 trains per day from Kunming. The journey time from Kunming to Jinghong is about 3 to 4 hours. There is also one cross-border train daily from Laos, which stops here at 16:20 Xishuangbanna Railway Station (Q108417971) on Wikidata Xishuangbanna railway station on Wikipedia

The Yuxi-Mohan Railway runs through Xishuangbanna and connects the region to Kunming and the Laotian border. There are 5 passenger stations in Xishuangbanna. These include 3 stations in Jinghong as well as one station each in Mengla and Mohan. Xishuangbanna's main railway station is the Xishuangbanna Railway Station in Jinghong, which has much more frequent train services than the other stations.

Get around

[edit]

By bus

[edit]

The airport bus can easily reach the city from the airport, and the airport special line No. 1 also passes through the night market and temple attractions. The price is ¥4. The tourist route can choose ordinary bus and tourist line. Among them, ordinary bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and bus Z21 pass through many tourist attractions, and the price is RMB ¥3. Attractions will have corresponding tourist bus lines, most of which are ¥5 for round trips. Payment methods can be credit card or coin.

By taxi

[edit]

The starting price of taxis in Xishuangbanna is ¥7 (3 kilometers), including ¥2 fuel surcharge.

Rent battery cart

[edit]

There are many places in Xishuangbanna where you can rent battery cars (or a shared battery car parked on the side of the road). For many local residents, electric cars are one of the main ways to get around.

See

[edit]
Buddhist temple in Dai architectural style

Streets and architecture

[edit]

Religious sites

[edit]

As most Dai people are Theravada Buddhists, the main attraction here is the Theravada Buddhist temples, which are very similar in architecture to those in Thailand and Laos.

  • 1 Xishuangbanna Zongfo Temple (西双版纳总佛寺), Jinghong. Zongfo Temple (Q55708849) on Wikidata
  • 2 Mange Temple (曼阁佛寺), Jinghong. Mange Temple (Q55622020) on Wikidata Mange Temple on Wikipedia
  • 3 Manjinlan Temple (西双版纳曼景兰大佛寺), Jinghong.

Parks and nature

[edit]

Museums

[edit]

Border port

[edit]

Other historical sites

[edit]

Do

[edit]

Stay in a Hani village homestay and visit tea plantations, do jungle hikes and try the local foods. ¥300 per night with three meals included.

Eat

[edit]

Local food

[edit]

Restaurant

[edit]

Night market

[edit]
  • Mekong Starlight Night Market (湄公河·星光夜市), Gaozhuang Xishuangshi Scenic Spot, Jinghong City, +63 691-2221171. open all day.
Mekong Starlight Night Market

Drink

[edit]

Buy

[edit]

Food

[edit]

·Dried fruit (水果干) - Xishuangbanna is a tropical area, so there are plenty of fresh and dried tropical fruit.

Other

[edit]

Stay safe

[edit]

Go next

[edit]

The prefecture borders Myanmar and Laos. Buses leave from Jinghong and Mengla to Luang Namtha. From Jinghong it costs ¥70 and takes 7 hours. Laos visas cost USD40 at the border; two extra passport photos are required.

This region travel guide to Xishuangbanna is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!