4 DAYS, BANNA HIGHLIGHTS

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 1 JINGHONG - ARRIVAL (D)
Meet your guide at the airport in Jinghong, the gateway of Xishuangbanna prefecture, the tropical region of China and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 2: JINGHONG – DAMENLONG - JINGHONG (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the border area away still unveiled to many. Enjoy the countryside along the way and stop at a rubber plantation, the most important cash crop in the area. You will stroll along the border market in Damenlong and visit Manguanlong temple, the most famous Buddhist building of Xishuangbanna area, the White Pagoda built in 1204 in quite a graceful shape of bamboo shoots and highly regarded as a symbol of Banna. Pay visit to some villages of Dai and Aini minorities on your way back to Jinghong. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 3: JINGHONG - MENGHAI – MENGZHE – JINGHONG (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. See the daily market in Menghai, a colorful gathering of local people, including some ethnic groups living around. This market gives the opportunity to see an authentic side of local minority people’s life. Move to Mengzhe to visit the Octagonal Pavilion, representative work of Dai people’s traditional architectural arts. This pavilion was built in 1701 and served as a meeting room of senior monks in the past. Then, you will drive further west to Menghun to visit ethnic groups of Bulang and their tea plantation. Return to Jinghong and on the way stop to visit a village of the second biggest minority in Xishuangbanna - the Aini. Lunch en route and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 4: JINGHONG – GANLANBA – MENGLUN – JINUO MOUNTAIN (B,L)
 Breakfast at hotel. First drive along the Mekong River for around 26 kilometers and stop randomly at some photogenic spots on the way. In Ganlanba, stroll on the small local daily Dai market which vividly reflect the local people’s life, after that, drive off the main traffic road into countryside area of Ganlanba, along the path across villages and farm land, stop freely to visit some villages and families for a deeper exploration into Dai’s culture, religion and authentic life.  Drive another 50 KM on a normal road to Menglun to visit the biggest tropical botanical garden in China, hosting a fabulous collection of over 3000 tropical species and enjoy a leisure trekking in a rainforest zone. Drive back to Jinghong on a different scenic route and visit a village of the Jinuo Minority on the way, the last independent nationality classified by Chinese Government. Transfer to the airport in the evening for flight to next destination. Lunch en route and dinner at local restaurant.