Xishuangbanna | The magnificent Manting Park | You'll regret not visiting

When you come to Xishuangbanna, there is one must-visit attraction, Manting Park. Although it's just a park, its content is hardcore and much more fun than many 5A tourist spots. Manting Park is the oldest park in Xishuangbanna, with a history of over 1300 years. It was built by the Dai king specifically for the Dai queen as a royal garden. Besides Gaozhuang and the Starlight Night Market, this is also the most popular place in Banna. Just see how many travel photographers come here for location shooting, and you'll understand. 📍Address: No. 35 Manting Road, it's very close to the downtown area, and it's recommended to enter from the northwest gate. After entering, you will see the Dai king's palace. 💰Ticket price: 40 yuan per person, the bonfire performance in the evening requires a separate ticket, with the cheapest at 280 yuan per seat 🕙Opening hours: You can visit during the day or at night 🌟Highlights: 👉Thousand-year-old tree forest and leaf garden: This is the greenery part of the park, resembling a tropical rainforest. The sunlight filters through the tall trees, which is the best light for photography. 👉Elephant performance: At the southernmost end, you can see the lovely elephants bringing wonderful performances, which is much more convenient than the Wild Elephant Valley. Okay, now let me introduce the places in Manting Park that are suitable for photography: 👉Royal Elephant Cafe: The red building is full of exotic charm, and the stairs or in front of the second-floor building are very popular spots. It's just too crowded. 👉White Pavilion: On the lawn in front of the cafe, the white Thai-style pavilion can be used to take a large scene photo from a high angle on the second floor of the cafe, and it's also great to take close-ups inside the pavilion. 👉White Pagoda and Golden Pagoda: The White Pagoda in Manting Park is built in imitation of the Manfeilong White Pagoda, and each of the six sides can be photographed. A famous internet celebrity check-in spot. The Earth Goddess Wishing Pool (I call it the Golden Pagoda) next to the White Pagoda can also be photographed, and it's less crowded. 👉Royal Lotus Pond: Walking on the wooden bridge over the pond, you can take photos of the octagonal bridge and the lotus pond. 👉Dai King's Palace: Close to the entrance, the buildings here are like the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, both the exterior and interior are very luxurious, and you can visit Thailand without leaving the country. There are also various colorful pavilions in the nearby woods, which are the favorite photo spots for tourists. 👉Zong Buddhist Temple: Strictly speaking, this is already outside the park, but it is directly connected, right next to the White Pagoda. The Buddhist architecture inside is resplendent, and it is a must-visit. It's also free. You can refer to another one of my posts. 📝Note: Manting Park is very popular during the day, and there is also a bonfire party at night, which is basically a must-visit locally. The event starts from around 6 or 7 pm and ends after 9:00 pm. There are welcoming dances, shows, experiences of releasing water lanterns, and bonfire parties. If it's your first time in Xishuangbanna, you can experience the rich ethnic customs and quickly get into the vacation mood.