Self-driving Day 20｜Xishuangbanna

☁️Weather: Sunny☀ 🏨Hotel: Xishuangbanna Jinghong Gozhuang Xishuangjing Lancang River Atour Hotel 🚗Route: Pu'er ➡️ Xishuangbanna (120km, 1 hour 45 minutes) Driving into the greenery of Xishuangbanna under the bright sun. The cable car at Wild Elephant Valley slowly ascends, beneath are layers of rainforest. I hold the handrail quietly hoping—perhaps in the next clearing, I might see the silhouette of an elephant. Unfortunately, on the round trip, I only heard a few distant bird calls. Though a bit disappointing, it adds a special kind of anticipation. At the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, under the green dome woven by 13,000 plant species, the strangler fig’s roots resemble the lines of time on a palm. Walking into the fig tree garden feels like entering a secret realm; lightly touching the moist roots with my fingertips, I can feel the pulse of the rainforest. The palm garden’s plants stand tall and stretch out, their broad leaves gently swaying in the wind—every new green here is an epic of life, and humans are merely children pausing to listen. The starlight night market at dusk is the most vibrant face of Xishuangbanna. As twilight falls, thousands of lights gradually turn on, warm yellow light wrapping colorful flags, spreading from street corners to alleys. The stalls display Dai brocade, spices, and fruits filled with the atmosphere of daily life. Tourists and vendors chat with smiles; this orderly bustle is full of the warm feeling of prosperity and harmony. 📒Tips: 1. In late November in Xishuangbanna, there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening, remember to add layers. 2. Wild Elephant Valley has fixed elephant shows every day. When encountering elephant herds, do not shout loudly to avoid scaring them. The beauty of Xishuangbanna is hidden in the regret of not meeting wild elephants in the rainforest and also flourishes in the peaceful lights of the night market. Every encounter is a joy.