Day 1
Arrive in Xishuangbanna - Manting Garden - Starry Night Market
by high-speed train
A Keats teacher will accompany you throughout the whole trip. You will set out from Kunming by high-speed train. Upon arrival, you will visit the [Manting Park] in Jinghong. The park has a rich history dating back over 1,300 years and was once a royal garden of the ancient Dai kings. Manting Park is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region. The park is filled with lush tropical plants, including an array of flowers and trees, creating a serene environment that contrasts with the bustling city outside its boundaries.
One of the highlights of Manting Park is the opportunity to experience the culture of the local Dai people. The park often hosts cultural performances, including the famous Peacock Dance, and other traditional activities. During festivals, Manting Park becomes a center of celebration and activities, such as the Water Splashing Festival, which is an important event for the Dai people.
Later, you will look around in [Starry Night Market]. The food scene at the Starry Night Market is particularly notable. Street food vendors sell local delicacies such as barbecue skewers, Dai-style rice noodles, tropical fruits, and other regional specialties that reflect the diverse culinary influences of the area.
Distance: Around 515 Kilometers
High-speed train time: Around 3.5 hrs
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Not included, but will recommend local snacks
Day 2
Wild Elephant Vally + Manzhang Village
by private car
After breakfast, the driver will take you to visit the [Wild Elephant Valley]. It’s renowned for being a habitat for the region’s Asian elephant population, which is a protected species in China. The valley is part of the larger Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and provides visitors with the unique opportunity to observe these majestic creatures in their natural environment.
In addition to elephant watching, Wild Elephant Valley offers a range of other attractions. There is an elephant museum that provides educational information about Asian elephants and their conservation. The park also features a butterfly garden, a peacock garden, and other wildlife exhibits.
Then we will visit the [Manzhang Village]. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is an excellent place to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Dai people. Visitors to Manzhang Village can explore the well-preserved Dai architecture, characterized by bamboo houses built on stilts, which are designed to protect against flooding during the rainy season. The village is surrounded by lush tropical landscapes, including rubber plantations and paddy fields, which are integral to the local economy and way of life.
Distance: 33 Kilometers
Driving Time: Around 40 minutes
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner not included
Day 3
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden - Mengle Grand Buddha Temple
by private car
After breakfast, you and your teacher will visit the [Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden]. The XTBG is renowned for its extensive collection of tropical plants. It boasts over 13,000 species of plants, including a diverse array of native and exotic flora. The garden serves multiple functions: it is a center for botanical research and conservation, an education hub for students and scientists, and a popular tourist destination.
The garden’s layout is divided into several different sections, each dedicated to different types of plants or specific ecosystems. Visitors can explore areas such as the Rainforest Garden, Palm Garden, Medicinal Plant Garden, Rare and Endangered Plant Garden, and a section devoted to plants from the African tropics.
Then you will visit the [Mengle Great Buddha Temple]. The temple complex is an impressive example of modern Dai Theravada Buddhist architecture. It features a grand golden stupa that is visible from a distance and forms the centerpiece of the complex. This stupa is an important symbol in Theravada Buddhism and is often a focal point for worship and religious ceremonies.
Distance: 60 Kilometers
Driving Time: Around 1 hour
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner not included
Day 4
Primitive Forest Park + Jinuo Minority Village
by private car
After breakfast, you and your teacher will visit the [Primitive Forest Park]. With over 1,500 hectares, it features a dense canopy and a variety of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy nature trails, view local wildlife, experience indigenous cultures, and learn about conservation efforts. The park is ideal for those interested in ecology, culture, and the natural beauty of the rainforest.
Then you will visit the [Jinuo Minority Village]. The Jinuo people are one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China, and this village is dedicated to preserving and showcasing their unique culture and traditions. The village provides visitors with an opportunity to experience the Jinuo lifestyle firsthand. Traditional houses in the village are built from bamboo and wood, reflecting the Jinuo’s close relationship with their natural environment.
Cultural performances are often a highlight for visitors, featuring traditional Jinuo music and dance. These performances are rich in symbolic meaning and often relate to farming, hunting, and other aspects of Jinuo life.
Distance: 9 Kilometers
Driving Time: Around 20 minutes
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner not included
Day 5
Dai Minority Village - Bore Temple
by private car
After breakfast, you and your teacher will visit the [Dai Minority Village]. It is unique for its vibrant display of the cultural and architectural diversity of the Dai and other ethnic minorities in Yunnan, China. It offers live cultural performances, interactive festivals like the Water Splashing Festival, traditional handicrafts, and authentic ethnic cuisine.
Then you will go to [Bore Temple]. The temple showcases the traditional Dai architectural style, which is influenced by the Theravada Buddhist temples found in Southeast Asia. The temple complex typically features tall, pointed roofs covered with intricate decorations and golden spires that glisten in the sun.
Distance: 28 Kilometers
Driving Time: Around 50 minutes
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner not included
Day 6
Pu'er - Taiyanghe Forest Park - Nakeli Ancient Town
by private car
After breakfast, you and your teacher will head to Pu’er by private car. You will visit [Taiyanghe Forest Park], which is famous for its small pandas and many tropical animals.
Then you will visit the [Nakeli Ancient Town]. The Nakeli Ancient Town in Pu’er, like many other towns in the region, has historical connections to the Tea Horse Road (Chama Gudao), given the area’s long-standing association with tea cultivation and trade. The Tea Horse Road was an extensive network of trade routes that facilitated the exchange of goods, particularly tea and horses, between China, Tibet, and other neighboring regions for centuries.
Pu’er City, known for its namesake Pu’er tea, was an important hub on this trade route. The region’s tea, especially fermented Pu’er tea, was highly prized and often transported via the Tea Horse Road to other parts of China and Tibet. In return, horses and other goods were traded back into Yunnan and further into China.
Distance: 157 Kilometers
Driving Time: Around 2.5 hours
Accommodation: Boutique Hotels
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner not included
Day 7
Pu'er to Kunming
by high-speed train
After breakfast, we will take the high-speed train from Pu’er to Kunming.
Distance: Around 400 Kilometers
High-speed Train Time: Around 3 hrs