Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, located in the south of Yunnan Province and on the border with Myanmar and Laos, is world-famous for its amazing tropical rainforest landscapes and ethnic customs. The superior climate of Xishuangbanna provides suitable growth conditions for tropical and subtropical flora and fauna. Here, the precious tropical rainforest nature reserve has 3.6 million acres, which contains more than 20,000 species of plants, inhabits more than 500 kinds of mammals, 399 kinds of birds, 47 kinds of amphibians, and 68 kinds of reptiles, and among them, the list of protected species in the world, includes Asian elephants, green peacocks, white-throated hornbills, white-cheeked gibbons, Bengal tigers, and leopards.
So Xishuangbanna is praised as the “treasury of the plant kingdom, and the miniature of the animal kingdom”.
ABC’s of Xishuangbanna
Area: 19184 km²
Average annual temperature: 22.6 degrees
Geography: Bordering Burma, Laos, and Vietnam, it is the least hilly region of Yunnan
Population: 1,301,407 inhabitants (2021) Minorities account for 77.86% of the total population
Elevation: 560 m
Ethnic minorities: Dai, Hani, Bulang, Jino, Lahu, Wa, Yao
Economy: Tropical fruits, Pu’er tea, Tourism
Xishuangbanna Attractions
By Airplane
Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport(西双版纳嘎洒国际机场) has 49 lines to domestic cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Lhasa, Shanghai, Sanya, Xi’an, etc., and 5 international lines to Lang Prabang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville).
You can also take a bus or high-speed train from Kunming to Xishuangbanna.
The Water-Splashing Festival in mid-April every year is also called the Bathing Buddha Festival, which is the New Year of the Dai people. People get up early in the morning to bathe and worship the Buddha. After that, they will celebrate for several consecutive days. During this period, everyone splashes each other with pure water, praying to wash away the problems of the past year. By joining this local carnival festival, you can feel the enthusiasm and uniqueness of the Dai people in Xishuangbanna.
For information about Xishuangbanna climate and weather.
To know more about the climate in Yunnan: When to go to Yunnan.
Temperatures and precipitation of Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna belonged to Yizhou County and Yongchang County in the Han Dynasty. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, tribal alliances, “Lexi Shuangbang,” appeared in the territory. The Tang Dynasty was the Jianle Kingdom and respected the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. In 1180, the leader of the Dai people, Paya Zhen, established the Jinglong Kingdom which was a vassal state of the Dali Kingdom. Its name comes from the Ming Dynasty because local officials divided the jurisdiction into 12 administrative units, called ‘Xishuangbanna.'( Xishuang is 12, and Banna is one thousand fields in Dai language), After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it became the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in 1953.
Nowadays with the development of the economy and transportation, the fascinating natural scenery of Xishuangbanna appeals to more and more people come to unveil the mystery of it, and tourism has become an important pillar of the economy in Xishuangbanna.
Finding a Hotel in Xishuangbanna
The preferred hotel in Xishuangbanna is Yourantai or Bodu. You can take your family or alone to relax in these two featured hotels.
Discover our selection of the best charming hotels located in Xishuangbanna and its region, meeting all comfort and price ranges on the dedicated page of our site.
This selection is the result of our long experience and the positive feedback from our customers. Please take into consideration that in some more remote destinations, the choice of infrastructure and range of comfort is sometimes limited. In this case, we do our best to retain the best establishments.
Trips and Tours Ideas in Xishuangbanna
Tropical China in Xishuangbanna
6 days | Jinghong, and Jingmai
As a locality of the Dai minority, the rice terraces, tea gardens, primeval forests, and valleys compose the marvelous landscapes of Xishuangbanna.
Highlights of Yunnan (with Xishuangbanna)
24 days | Combine the highlights of Yunnan’s north and south
A 24-day travel plan includes the classics of Yunnan and destinations off the beaten track. Explore the colorful minority culture and varied scenery of Yunnan during the trip.
