Situated just to the north of Myanmar and Laos, this pretty region is located in Yunnan Province and is usually referred to as Banna.
Featuring spectacular rainforests, traditional villages and a wide range of wildlife, this is a great place to spend some time. Many visitors hire a guide for a few days and take the time to discover the folklore of the Dai minority people and their traditional way of life.
The clothing, lifestyle and beliefs of the Dai minority people are quite different to most other groups in the People’s Republic of China and this is the perfect place to learn all about this interesting group of people.
Nature lovers will want to spend plenty of time exploring the vast array of flora and fauna that can be found here. There are also plenty of interesting sites and sacred buildings to see such as the White Stupa, which contains a footprint of Lord Buddha in a central niche.
While many people travel to this region to visit the Octagonal Pavilion known as Wo Su, the real highlight in the Xishuangbanna Region is the Wild Elephant Valley. Check into the hotel located in the treetops for an excellent chance of spotting the nocturnal elephants that live here.
Getting There & Away
Access is from the Yunnan capital city of Kunming, where there is a large international airport. It is possible to catch as bus from Kunming to many parts of the Xishuangbanna Region (2 hours). There are also buses from Jinghong, while the nearby airport of Lijiang is the easiest access point for those arriving from Thailand.