Population: 990,000

Area: 19,700 square kilometers (7,606 square miles)

Nationalities: Dai, Han

Administrative Division: 2 counties (Menghai, Mengla); 1 county-level cities (Jinghong)

Seat of the city government: No.6, Jinghong Road (East), Jinghong City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0691-96927, 2122323
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Xishuangbanna Branch: No.23, Minhang Road, Jinghong City

China Post Xishuangbanna Branch: No.2, Jinghong Road (West), Jinghong City

Location: Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture is located in the south end of Yunnan Province. It shares a boundary of 966 kilometers (619 miles) with Burma and Laos in the east, south and west, being a vital pass from China to indo-China Peninsular by land.

History: It is said by the Dai people that Xishuangbanna was known as Mengbanaxi in ancient time, meaning a miraculous and nice utopia. It had been a settlement where ethnic minorities live in compact communities. Thirteen minority groups have lived there for generations. Jino ethnic minority is peculiar to the prefecture.

Physical Features: Located in the south extension of the Hengduan Mountains, Xishuangbanna has over ninety-five percent of its territory occupied by mountainous and hilly areas. Most of the prefecture is below the altitude of 1,500 meters (4921 feet). Jinghong City is only 550 meters (1804 feet) above the sea level. The Lancang River runs through the prefecture and it is known as Mekong River while passing by Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Climatic Features: The weather of this region features a combination of continental and oceanic climate with an annual average temperature of 18-22C (64.4-71.6F). The coldest November likes the summer in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Therefore, Xishuangbanna is reputed as a happy land without winter. Generally, it only has two seasons. May to October is the rainy season and November to April the next year is the dry season.

When to Go: It is an all-year-round tourist destination. November to April the next year is the best season to Xishuangbanna for the favorable weather. Due to its sound road condition, Xishuangbanna is also a hot destination during the rainy season from May to October.

Special Local Products: tea, coffee, tropical fruit, herbs, Yunnan tobacco

Local Highlights: Water-sprinkling Festival is the New Year's Day for the Dai ethnic minority, being the most important and grandest festival during the whole year. It lasts three days from 13th to 15th, April (the sixth month of the Dai Calendar). In addition, the festivals of the Hani, Jino and Yao ethnic minorities are also delightful part of Xishuangbanna's ethnic customs.

Xishuangbanna has the only tropical forest nature reserve in China. Great biological diversity in the virgin forest is surprising. Furthermore, Xishuangbanna is far away from central China. In religious, it greatly affected by Hinayana Buddhism of Southeast Asia. Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda is the quintessence of Hinayana Buddhist architecture.

Scenic Spots:
Single-Tree Forest: A tree does not make a forest. But a nine hundred years banyan in Daluo Town of Xishuangbanna is an exception. It covers an area of 120 square meters (143.6 square yards) with over thirty stand roots. This 70-meter-high (230-feet-tall) banyan is absolutely an attractive and marvelous forest.
Wild Elephant Valley: Chinese wild elephant only can be found in the virgin forest. The Wild Elephant Valley is in the Mengyang Nature Reserve which is 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jinghong. Hostel on the tree connected by overhead corridors are the most perfect location to admire the elephants.
Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda is a Hinayana Buddhist architecture complex consisted of nine masonry pagodas of all sizes. It is also known as the White Pagoda due to its pure white body. During the Water-sprinkling Festival, crowds of the Dai ethnic minority in Manfeilong Village will gather in front of the pagoda to celebrate the New Year of the Dai Calendar.
Olive Dam is the lowest and hottest place in Xishuangbanna. However, torrid climate brings it rich tropical fruits and products. It is consisted of two villages, each of which is highlighted by an eyeful of typical Burma type Buddhist pagodas and bamboo building of the Dai minority.
Other Scenic Spots: Mandian Waterfall, Xishuangbanna Tropical Plant Research Institute, Xishuangbanna Nationality Culture Park, Old Town of Yiwu

Tourist Tips:
1. Jinghong (Xishuangbanna) Airport is located in the Gajiu Town in southern Jinghong City, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from downtown Jinghong. At present, it has direct flights to Kunming, Lijiang and Dali. There are two flights a week to Chiang Mai, Thailand. From Jinghong bus station in No.23, Jinghong Road (North) and Xishuangbanna passenger transport service station in No.5, Minzu Road, buses to the counties and towns of Xishuangbanna run frequently, carrying visitors to the scenic spot they want to.

2. There are total three public bus lines in Jinghong city proper. All the scenic spots and passenger transport stations inside Jinghong City can be reached by theses buses. Recently, renting a bicycle while traveling a city is every popular and convenient. Jinghong city is not big, and it is a good idea to visit by bike.