All about Xishuangbanna - By: Grace Fan

Xishuangbanna is situated in the southmost part of Yunnan Province with Burma and Laos to the south. As the hometown of Dai nationality in China, Xishuangbanna is praised as the “Kingdom of Animals” and “Kingdom of Plants”. The scenic area of Xishuangbanna is separated into three sections including Jinghong, Menghai and Mengla. These three scenic areas respectively include 19 scenic spots. Occupying an area of over 20 thousand square kilometers, Xishuangbanna is like a pearl embedded on the southwest of China. Flowing through Xishuangbanna, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, Lancangjiang River is called “Oriental Danube”. Therefore, Xishuangbanna is preeminent gateway to Southeast and South Asia.

There are more than ten ethnic minorities: Dai, Hani, Bulang, Jinuo, etc, with a total population of 796,000. Among them, the Dai Nationality takes up one third in number. With long history, Dai Nationality is famous for its rich culture and unique customs. Early about 1,000 years ago, the ancestors of Dai wrote many beautiful and touching fable stories, mythologies, novels and poems. And some of them were adapted for the stage and radio. The dance of Dai boasts great artistic values and strong ethnic characteristics. Dai people believe in Buddhism, so Buddhism temples and pagodas are ubiquitous in area of Dai.

In Xishuangbanna, there are five big nature reserves, approximately100,000 hectares of virgin forest with over 5,000 species of woody and herbaceous plants, ranging from huge arbors to primitive ferns. The vast and lush forest shelters many kinds of wild animals. At present, 429 kinds of birds live in the forest, taking up two thirds of the whole country. And there are 67 kinds of wild animals accounting for 16 percent of the whole country including many endangered animals such as Asian elephants. Asian elephants became the endangered animal and the nature reserve was established in 1980. The number of Asian elephants increases from 80 to around 300. Xishuangbanna is rich in rubber, rice, kinds of tropical fruits and precious medicinal herbs.

Xishuangbanna area belongs to tropical monsoon climate with sufficient sunshine and heavy rainfall. Rather than the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, Xishuangbanna exhibits a distinct Wet season (from May to October) and Dry season (from November to the following April) with annual average temperature of 21 degree.

As a kind of spirited folk customs, taboo is a part of national traditional culture. When visiting Xishuangbanna, you should well know these taboos. Do not touch the monks’ head. The Theravada Buddhism has a rule that men should experience several years’ religion life. When they are a boy of seven or eight years old, the parents send them to temples to be a monk. During this period, they will learn Buddhism knowledge and accept the strict Buddhism education. After two or three they can leave the temple and return home. The man who has not the experience of being a monk is regarded as wild man. The one who touch the little monks’ head is considered to be an enemy. When visiting the family of the Dai nationality, remember not to peep into the bedroom. People who peep into the bedroom is unpopular.

About the Author

As an English editor, Grace Fan and her colleagues is dedicated to providing the full range of tour service such as group China tours, private China tours, top 10 China tours, etc.

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