Mangshi | A Relaxing Town

👍🏻Recommended reasons: Mangshi is definitely worth a visit! It boasts stunning natural scenery, such as the shimmering Peacock Lake and the mist-shrouded Black River Old Slope, resembling a fairyland. It also has a rich ethnic culture, being home to Dai, Jingpo, and other ethnic groups. You can experience lively traditional festivals like the Water Splashing Festival and the Munao Zongge Festival. The food is exceptional, with Dai-style hand-grabbed rice and cross-bridge rice noodles offering a taste of Southeast Asia. It's a foodie's paradise! At the same time, ancient temples and Tusi culture allow you to feel the weight of history. Whether you like nature, culture, or food, Mangshi has something for you! 🗺Attractions: There are so many fun places in Mangshi! Peacock Lake is like a green gem nestled in the mountains. A stroll around the lake with a gentle breeze is incredibly relaxing. You can hike through the primeval forest at Black River Old Slope and see alpine meadows. Temples like Bodhi Temple and Five Clouds Temple are full of historical charm, with exquisite architecture and solemn Buddha statues. To delve deeper into ethnic culture, visit ethnic minority villages to see the traditional life of the locals and experience authentic ethnic customs. 🚗Transportation: If you're coming to Mangshi from out of town, you'll usually fly to Dehong Mangshi Airport, which is very close to the city center—a taxi ride of about 15 minutes. Getting around Mangshi by taxi is convenient and affordable. If you want to visit surrounding attractions like Black River Old Slope, chartering a car or driving yourself is recommended. The scenery along the way is stunning, and you can stop for photos anytime. You can also choose to take the local tourist bus, which is economical and hassle-free. 🗺Itinerary: Day 1: After arriving in Mangshi, visit Bodhi Temple and Five Clouds Temple in the city center to experience the charm of religious culture. Have some Dai snacks for lunch nearby. In the afternoon, visit Peacock Lake for a leisurely stroll. In the evening, go to the Starlight Night Market, which has a wide variety of food and handicrafts, and you can also enjoy ethnic song and dance performances. Day 2: Charter a car to Black River Old Slope and spend the day hiking, experiencing the wonders of nature. Day 3: Visit ethnic minority villages, experience their way of life, learn about the customs of the Dai Water Splashing Festival, or participate in the Jingpo Munao Zongge Festival for an in-depth experience of ethnic culture. 🍱Food recommendations: The food in Mangshi is incredibly tempting! I highly recommend Dai-style hand-grabbed rice. A large table of dishes is laid out on banana leaves, including lemongrass grilled fish, pineapple purple rice, and chicken stewed with sour bamboo shoots. Eating with your hands is a unique experience! Don't miss the cross-bridge rice noodles either. Mix various ingredients with rice noodles, add a unique sauce, and the taste is amazing. There's also Burmese Falooda, a refreshing dessert with sweet coconut milk, dried bread, sago, and other ingredients. Be sure to try other local specialties like Sa Pie and Devil's Chicken! 💰Expenses: Overall, Mangshi is not expensive. Round-trip airfare varies depending on your departure city. For accommodation, a regular homestay costs about CNY 100-200 per night, while a better hotel costs CNY 300-500. Entrance fees to attractions are also inexpensive. Peacock Lake is free, and Black River Old Slope costs tens of yuan. For food, snacks cost CNY 20-30 per person, and a good dinner costs CNY 50-80 per person. Chartering a car for a day costs about CNY 300-500, which is not much when split between several people, offering excellent value for money! 📌Other tips: 1. Mangshi is quite hot, so remember to protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. 2. When visiting ethnic minority villages, respect local customs. For example, take off your shoes before entering temples and don't touch Buddha statues. 3. Mangshi has many mosquitoes, so bring mosquito repellent. 4. The Starlight Night Market gets lively in the evening, so don't go too early and be disappointed!