Xishuangbanna

Xishuangbanna blooms where the Tropic of Cancer meets China’s only tropical rainforest. At the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), a UNESCO-listed biodiversity ark, marvel at 13,000+ species: giant Victoria water lilies strong enough to hold a child, “strangler figs” that devour host trees into hollow temples, and rainbow eucalyptus trunks. In Wild Elephant Valley, traverse canopy walkways to observe wild Asian herds bathing below, then join Dai villagers in ancient Pu’er tea processing. As dusk falls, Jinghong’s Night Market erupts into a feast of flavors—grill fish wrapped in lemongrass, pineapple rice steamed in bamboo, and butterfly pea flower sticky rice. Visit in April for the Water-Splashing Festival, where drumbeats drive dancing crowds beneath flying water arcs. For luxury amid wilderness, Anantara Resort offers firefly-lit rainforest walks and Dai dance performances. Where jungle whispers meet vibrant culture!