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Southern Yunnan · 西双版纳

Xishuangbanna

Tropical forest and river valleys at the far south of Yunnan.

Jinghong city lights reflecting in the Lancang River at night.
XishuangbannaCity lights reflected in the Lancang River, seen from Jinghong’s Starlight Night Market.

The Lancang river valley, tropical gardens and historic temple architecture.

Xishuangbanna through the year

March–May

Spring

Manting Imperial Garden

At the entrance to Manting Imperial Garden, look up to see the red gables and their gold details against the sky.

Gold ornament and overlapping red gables rise above the Manting Imperial Garden entrance in Jinghong.
Manting Imperial GardenGold scrollwork catches the April light along the red gables of Manting Imperial Garden.

June–August

Summer

Dai Garden Splash Square

From the splash square, look for the fountain spray against the dark roof and the clouds above the gold spires.

Fountains arc past the layered roof and gold spires of the Dai Garden under towering summer clouds.
Dai Garden Splash SquareWater jets rise in front of the Dai Garden roofs under a bank of August clouds.

September–November

Autumn

Wangtianshu Scenic Area

Slow down on the forest paths at Wangtianshu and listen for birds in the foliage above the trail.

A brown puff-throated bulbul perches on a branch among sunlit green leaves in Wangtianshu.
Wangtianshu Scenic AreaA puff-throated bulbul pauses on a branch in the late-afternoon forest at Wangtianshu.

December–February

Winter

Starlight Night Market

Arrive at Jinghong’s Starlight Night Market around dusk to catch the last light over the water and the first reflections from the stalls.

A Ferris wheel and palms are silhouetted against a pink sky above lights reflected in the water at Jinghong’s Starlight Night Market.
Starlight Night MarketA Ferris wheel rises above the water as the first market lights reflect beneath a pink January sky.