4 Days XishuangBanna Water Splashing Festival Celebration Tour

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Today, you’ll be driven 32 kilometers to Banna Wild Elephant Valley (版纳野象谷) which is only habitat for Asian Elephants living that you can get very close to the lovely elephants. This tropical rain forest is also the place for monkeys, wild buffalos, slowworm, butterfly, gibbon, sloth, hornbills, peacocks, macaque, etc. Walking into this dense forest, you can watch the tamed elephants making a bow, greeting, dancing, playing and bathing. Take a 2-km cable car running over the tree tops from the main entrance into the heart of the park to observe the wild Asian elephants and other animals.

Later, drive 25 kilometers from Wild Elephant Valley to Jinuo Ethnic Village (基诺村寨）. This village opens a window to have a fully understanding about the 56th group called Jinuo Ethnic Group in China. Jinuo people call themselves “those who respect the uncle” and are thought to possibly have descended from the Qiang. If time is right, enjoy the performance held by the local villagers.

Evening Activities: If you like, you can explore on your own and enjoy the bustling nightlife in Jiangbian Night Market (江边夜市) and taste some local snacks to spend a wonderful night.

In this morning, you’ll drive about 64 kilometers to Tropical Plants Garden (热带植物园), the largest tropical garden in China, to witness why Xishuangbanna is called “the Kingdom of Plants”. There are more than 13,000 species of tropical plants preserved in its 35 living collections, including over 301 families and 2110 genera. Breathe freely in the natural oxygen bar and appreciate different kinds of unique plants while walking through Tropical Zone, Aquatic Botanical Garden and other scenic zones. Here, you can see the lightest tree and heaviest tree in the world, what a coffee tree looks like, and hear tales about the golden mango and secrets of its fruit juice.

In this afternoon, be transferred to Dai Minority Park (傣族公园). Situated in Olives Dam, it is regarded as a classic destination to experience Dai people’s daily life and special culture. Strolling in the park, you can enjoy the “the Oriental Carnival” in Water-splashing Square (travelers can enjoy fun of water-splashing every day), and pay visits to five Dai villages – Manjiang, Manchunman, Manting, Manzha and Manga. View bamboo houses, Buddhist temple, gold pagoda, white pagoda, drum tower and special musical instruments.

After the tour, be driven back to Jinghong downtown area.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, pay a visit to the largest Theravada Buddhist Temple in China – Mengle Great Buddhist Monastery (勐泐大佛寺). It was built on the royal temple of Dai Ethnic Minority – “Jingpiao Buddhist Temple” which was constructed by a king in honor of his queen in Dai history. You can have a better known about the story of Sakyamuni and appreciate Buddhist architecture and landscape which fully reveal the history and tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Standing on the square of Wanfo Pagoda, you can have a panoramic view of Jinghong city.

Later, be followed a trip to Manting Park (曼听公园). With a history over 1300 years, it is the oldest park in Jinghong city. Manting, also called Chunhuan, means “the garden of soul”. The name came from a legend: One day, the King of the Dai ethnic group came to visit this park with his princess. The princess was so completely enthralled by the beauty of the scenery that she lost her soul and forgot anything else around her. Strolling in the park, you will get amazed by the breathtaking tropical scenery, Buddhist culture as well as Dai folk culture. Visit and see the statue of Premier Zhou and several featured Dai villages and know the interesting history and culture. (Please note: There is a bonfire party from 19:30 to 22:30. You will have the chance to enjoy dances of the Dai and other traditional activities performed. If you want to attend the bonfire party, tell us your likes and we’ll help you adjust the itinerary.)

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to airport for your flight to next destination. Service end!