Yunnan Dehong | The Dai Code Under the Golden and Silver Pagodas!

| The Dai Code Under the Golden and Silver Pagodas! 🌴 Yunnan Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture Travel Guide 🌟 ### I. Trip Overview **Best Season:** October - April (dry season), with peak experiences during the Water Splashing Festival (April 10-13) and the Munao Zongge Festival (February 10-13). **Recommended Duration:** 5-7 days **Transportation:** - **External:** Direct flights to Mangshi Airport (40 minutes from Kunming), or drive via the Hangrui Expressway. - **Local:** Shared taxis from Mangshi to Ruili (¥100/person, 2 hours), or rent a car for flexibility. ### II. Core Itinerary & Experiences 📍 **Day 1-2: Mangshi · Magical Journey to the Golden & Silver Pagodas** **Morning:** 🌅 **Meng Huan Golden Pagoda** (Southeast Asia’s largest hollow pagoda, covered in 7,000kg of gold, with sunrise rays piercing clouds like a divine spectacle). 🦚 **Mengbanaxi Rare Garden** (peacocks roaming freely among tropical plants and jade stones). **Afternoon:** 🌿 **Meng Huan Silver Pagoda** (Burmese-style palace architecture, rent Dai costumes for exotic photos, paired with Burmese iced coffee and *paoluda*). 🎨 **Dehong Prefecture Museum** (explore Dai and Jingpo history and culture). **Evening:** 🔥 **Dai Ancient Town Bonfire Party** (elephant-foot drum performances, Dai peacock dances). 🍢 **Mengbanaxi Food Street** (must-try: *sapie*, hand-torn rice, grilled milk fan). **Accommodation:** Stay in Dai Ancient Town homestays (e.g., Eryu·Art Homestay) with rooftop views of the Golden Pagoda at night. 📍 **Day 3-4: Ruili · The Magical Realism of "One Village, Two Countries"** **Morning:** 🛃 **Jiegao Port** (shop for Burmese jade on Sino-Myanmar Street, take photos at Boundary Marker No. 71 for the "one foot in two countries" shot). 🌳 **Single Tree Forest** (a thousand-year-old banyan tree with aerial roots forming a natural corridor). **Afternoon:** 🌍 **One Village, Two Countries** (bilingual Chinese-Myanmar broadcasts, cross-border swings, Burmese vendors hawking coffee in Chinese). 🎭 **Wanding Border Culture Park** (Nanyang Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Memorial Hall, steeped in history). **Evening:** 🌃 **Ruili Night Market** (Burmese *shuaibaba*, Jingpo ghost chicken, Vietnamese rice rolls). 🏨 **Jiegao Port Hot Spring Hotel** (soak in sulfur springs while enjoying Myanmar’s nightscape). 📍 **Day 5-6: Longchuan + Yingjiang · Ethnic Kaleidoscope in Hidden Gems** **Longchuan:** 🗡 **Husa Village** (try Achang blacksmithing and customize engraved knives). 🍜 *Guoshou* rice noodles + roasted pig (rice noodles wrapped in raw minced meat dipped in sour broth, paired with crispy pork skin). **Yingjiang:** 🌿 **Yunnan Yingjiang National Wetland Park** (main venue for the Water Splashing Festival, April 10-13, with massive water fights). 🏕 **Shimiwadi Camping** (summer flower fields, bonfires under the stars). **Accommodation:** Husa Village countryside homestays (sunset views over terraced fields). 📍 **Day 7: Lianghe · The Cultural Charm of the Hulusi’s Hometown** **Morning:** 🍵 **Huilong Village** (tea-picking and tea-making workshops, savor *Huilong* tea). 🏛 **Nandian Xuanfu Office** (Han-style government complex, a microcosm of Tusi culture). **Afternoon:** 🎵 **Gen Congguo Hulusi Workshop** (craft your own *hulusi* flute and enjoy its melodies). 🌿 **Qingqiu Mystic Valley** (rainforest hiking and wild nature exploration). ### III. Festival Guide **Water Splashing Festival (April 10-13):** - **Mangshi:** Main venue at Mengbanaxi Square, featuring Dai costume parades and floating lantern blessings. - **Ruili:** Cross-border water fights at One Village, Two Countries, with Silver Pagoda light shows at night. - **Yingjiang/Lianghe:** More traditional celebrations on May 1-2, avoiding crowds. **Tips:** Wear quick-dry clothes, bring waterproof phone cases, and stay hydrated (temps reach 30°C). **Munao Zongge Festival (February 10-13):** - **Mangshi:** Thousands dance the "Munao Zongge" at Jingpo Cultural Park; wear silver headdresses for photos with the hornbill totem. - **Longchuan/Yingjiang:** Experience the Jingpo "green leaf feast" and bamboo-tube tea. ### IV. Food Map **Must-Try Dishes:** 🍜 *Sapie* (spicy-sour beef tripe, at Mengbanaxi Food Street). 🍚 *Guoshou* rice noodles (Husa Village, with raw minced meat and sour dip). 🥞 Burmese *shuaibaba* (Ruili Night Market, sweet or savory). 🍍 Water Splashing cakes (Dai Ancient Town, sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves). **Food Streets:** - **Manghe Village:** Budget-friendly mixed salads, fried potatoes with pickled sauce, *paoluda*. - **Ruili Sino-Myanmar Street:** Burmese crab, Vietnamese spring rolls, Burmese milk tea. ### V. Accommodation Picks **Budget-Friendly:** - **Mangshi:** Vienna International Hotel (smart rooms, near the airport). - **Ruili:** Benqing Hot Spring Hotel (hot spring pools + shopping district). **Unique Stays:** - Dai Ancient Town homestays (e.g., Eryu·Art Homestay, Dai-style architecture). - Longchuan stargazing camps (bonfire lamb roasts, Milky Way views). ### VI. Practical Tips **Documents:** Carry ID in border areas; Jiegao Port requires a border pass (available on-site). **Shopping:** Haggle hard in Ruili’s jade markets; Burmese snacks start at ¥10 for 3 packs—look for certification. **Cultural Etiquette:** Remove shoes in temples, avoid touching monks’ heads, and don’t step on door thresholds. **Transport:** Rent a car (¥200/day) or use shared taxis for flexibility. **Photography:** Dai costumes rent for ¥30/set (with makeup), Jingpo silver accessories for ¥50/day. A white peacock spreading its wings at Meng Huan Golden Pagoda is a lucky omen. ### VII. Pitfalls to Avoid - Avoid the rainy season (May-September) due to landslides. - Beware of "cheap jade" scams—buy from licensed stores. - Book hotels 1-2 months ahead during festivals, as prices double. Dehong, dubbed "Yunnan’s Little Southeast Asia," offers sacred pagodas, surreal borderlands, and vibrant ethnic cultures for a soul-stirring journey. Whether it’s the euphoria of water fights or the awe of Munao dances, these memories will stay vivid forever. ✨