7 Days 6 Nights Exploring Xishuangbanna
7 Days 6 Nights In-Depth Tour of Xishuangbanna|Experience tropical rainforests, Dai villages under the starry sky, and border towns all within 9,000 RMB per person, living summer like a local! Who says you can only join group tours to visit Xishuangbanna’s attractions? This time, we ditch the crowds and dive deep into the tropical secret realm—7 days and 6 nights, 8,800 RMB per person, staying in rainforest treehouses, night firefly watching, checking in at the border town Mengla, drinking Dai homemade rice wine, wearing Dai costumes for photoshoots, riding elephants through the jungle... This is not just a trip, it’s an escape for the soul!---
📅 Itinerary Overview: 📍Duration: 7 days 6 nights (recommended departure on Friday, return next Sunday) 📍Budget: 8,800 RMB per person (cheaper for two travelers) 📍Route: Jinghong → Menglun → Mengla → Damenglong → Menghai 📍Style: Wild charm + culture + photogenic spots + light luxury slow travel---
✈️ Day 1: Arrive in Jinghong, night stroll at Starlight Night Market Afternoon: Fly into Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport (book tickets in advance, round-trip about 4,200 RMB) - Taxi to check in at [Gaozhuang Xishuangjing·Kapok Inn] (boutique guesthouse with pool, 380 RMB/night) - Evening: Head straight to [Starlight Night Market], wear Dai costumes for photos (rental 80 RMB/set), enjoy Dai-style barbecue, Laotian iced coffee, and pounded chicken feet - Dinner: Casual night market dining, about 60 RMB per person >💡 Tip: Gaozhuang is the core area, convenient for dining and lodging, with stunning night views!---
🌿 Day 2: Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden + Firefly Night Tour Morning: Travel to [Menglun Chinese Academy of Sciences Tropical Botanical Garden] (ticket 80 RMB + electric cart 50 RMB) ✅Must-see: Giant water lily pond, Banyan tree king, exotic flowers area - Lunch: Farmhouse restaurant near the garden, try lemongrass grilled fish and pineapple rice, about 50 RMB per person - Afternoon: Check in at [Wanglian Hotel inside the Botanical Garden] (rainforest view from the window, 680 RMB/night) - Evening: Join the exclusive [Firefly Night Tour] (professional guide, 150 RMB/person), watch thousands of fireflies like a falling star river---
🐘 Day 3: Wild Elephant Valley light hiking + Slow life in Dai villages Morning: Head to [Wild Elephant Valley] (ticket 60 RMB + cable car 100 RMB), walk the “rainforest plank road” listening to birds and gibbons - Lunch: Simple meal inside the park, about 40 RMB per person - Afternoon: Explore [Manzhang Village] or [Manyuan Village] (free), experience Dai pottery, slow wheel pottery making, and Dai paper crafting - Overnight: Stay in a characteristic village guesthouse (stilt wooden house, breakfast included), 320 RMB/night---
🛕 Day 4: Nannuo Mountain Ancient Tea Mountain cycling + Hani family dinner Early morning: Travel to [Nannuo Mountain] (China’s No.1 Pu’er tea village) - Rent a bike for mountain cycling (30 RMB/day), visit thousand-year-old ancient tea trees - Lunch: Hani family meal in the mountains with dipped chicken and bitter bamboo soup, about 50 RMB per person - Afternoon: Visit ancient tea gardens, listen to tea farmers’ picking stories (free) - Overnight: [Nannuo Mountain Yunyin Guesthouse] (starry sky room, 580 RMB/night)---
🕌 Day 5: Dalou Border One-Day Tour|Step into the China-Myanmar border town All day: Charter a car to [Dalou Port] (round trip 400 RMB/car), check in at the national gate, boundary marker, China-Myanmar street - Pass by [Single Tree Forest] (ticket 40 RMB), a single tree grown into a forest, breathtaking! - Lunch: Dalou town Myanmar-style meal, curry noodles and fried spring rolls, about 45 RMB per person - Evening: Return to Jinghong, stay overnight as before---
⛰️ Day 6: Mengjinglai + Bolang Mountain Sunset Morning: Visit [Mengjinglai] (China-Myanmar first village, ticket 65 RMB), experience border Dai culture - Afternoon: Drive to [Bolang Mountain] (free), one of the highest points in Xishuangbanna, overlooking the entire rainforest - Evening: Wait for an epic sunset, sea of clouds rolling, forest dyed gold - Dinner: Dai-style restaurant at the foot of the mountain, about 60 RMB per person---
🛫 Day 7: Manting Park + Return trip Morning: Tour [Manting Park + Grand Buddha Temple] (ticket 40 RMB), once the Dai king’s royal garden, as beautiful as a fairyland - Noon: Last Dai feast, recommended lemongrass ribs + grilled enoki mushrooms - Afternoon: Head to the airport for return---
💰 Cost Breakdown (per person): Airfare (round trip): 4,200 RMB - Accommodation (6 nights): 2,360 RMB - Meals: 650 RMB - Tickets + experiences + transport: 1,590 RMB ✅Total: about 8,800 RMB (reserve 200 RMB for contingency, keep under 9,000 RMB!)---
📌 Travel Tips: Best season: December to April next year (cool season, not humid) - Must bring: sunscreen, mosquito repellent, lightweight long sleeves (for mosquito and sun protection), ethnic-style skirts/shirts (great for photos) - Avoid pitfalls: ask prices before buying night market snacks, watch the scale when weighing fruit - Photogenic spots: Starlight Night Market lantern alley, Botanical Garden giant water lily pond, Bolang Mountain sea of clouds, Grand Buddha Temple white pagoda. Xishuangbanna is not just a tropical destination, it’s a living secret realm. Here you can breathe the rainforest, hear the Dai songs, and see starry skies and fireflies you’ve never seen before. 7 days 6 nights, spend less than 9,000 RMB, give yourself back to nature. This time, don’t be a tourist, live a dream.🌴✨