[2025 Jinping Attraction] Travel Guide for China · Honghe Butterfly Valley (Updated Mar)

A great place to escape the summer heat - China's Honghe Butterfly Valley is recommended as an off-the-beaten-path travel destination from mid to late May to early June each year General Introduction: Ma'andiba Township is located on the eastern side of Jinping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, 146 kilometers away from the county seat of Jinping. It is a border township with rich natural resources and stunning scenery, boasting the Watershed National Nature Reserve with a forest coverage rate of over 76%, dense vegetation, fresh air, and extremely well-preserved biodiversity. It is home to 320 species from 11 of the 12 butterfly families in China, earning the reputation of 'China's Honghe Butterfly Valley'. Embrace nature in the deep valleys Within the Butterfly Valley, there are natural landscapes such as the Wutai Mountain Waterfall Group, Bianshuiyan Waterfall, Tianshengqiao Waterfall, Pinghe Grassland, Yunhai Viewing Platform, and Yingpanshan Mountain. You can take your time to explore the Wutai Mountain Waterfall Group, experience the dense forests, interlacing rivers, and magnificent waterfalls; head to the Bianshuiyan scenic area to experience the Hani ethnic minority's homestays, taste Hani specialty cuisine, enjoy the pastoral scenery, and indulge in the slow life of the countryside; or plan a camping trip with a few good friends to Pinghe Grassland, clear your mind with friends, and wake up early the next day to watch the sunrise at the Yunhai Viewing Platform, 'encounter' the sea of clouds, and feel the natural wonders. A romantic getaway for two, dancing with butterflies The period from mid to late May to early June each year is the 'butterfly outbreak' period in China's Honghe Butterfly Valley, with approximately 80 to 100 million butterflies erupting, the most numerous of which is the Common Jay. In addition, there are also species such as the Golden Birdwing, Purple Spotted Swallowtail, and Golden Spotted Birdwing. During the outbreak, you can have close contact with butterflies in the bamboo forests and dance with them, feeling the harmony and inclusiveness between humans and nature. Local flavors, ethnic charm Ma'andiba Township is a multi-ethnic border town inhabited by the Miao, Yao, Hani, Yi, and Han ethnic groups. The cohabitation of multiple ethnicities has brought a diverse and unique food culture. When visiting Ma'andiba, be sure to experience the bustling market days and taste the local ethnic specialty foods.

| Butterfly fairies are waiting for you~. Location: Ladeng Waterfall; Biaoshuiyan Waterfall (Scenic Area) ; Pujiacun, Mabatang Butterfly Viewing Points Map. Day One: Mengzi—Ladeng Waterfall—Butterfly Valley—Ma'andadi; 1. Taste the 'burning house' Guoqiao Rice Noodles in Mengzi City; 2. Take a car along the Kaihe Expressway to reach the Ladeng Waterfall in the Wutaishan Scenic Area (sanitation fee 10 yuan/person). After entering from the entrance of the waterfall scenic area, the walking distance is 4 kilometers, all along stone plank pathways; 3. Take a car to have dinner and stay overnight near the Biaoshuiyan Scenic Area; Day Two: After breakfast in the morning, visit Biaoshuiyan Waterfall (Mushroom House) -- Butterfly Viewing Points: Pujiacun and Mabatang, two viewing points 1. After getting up and having breakfast in the morning, enter the plank pathway from the back of the small path, tour along the plank pathway, with a distance of 3 kilometers, and view the Biaoshuiyan Waterfall. 2. After the tour, visit the Mushroom House along the way and experience the Hani culture. 3. Butterfly Viewing Points: Pujiacun (sanitation fee 10 yuan/person), Mabatang viewing point is entered from the back exit.

Besides Dali and Lijiang, Yunnan has a hidden gem of a border town called Jinping, a land brimming with vitality. The locals are simple, sincere, and enthusiastic, with everyone loving their life. Jinping, the longevity valley of the Yao community Jinping is known as the land of longevity, with its rich natural ecology being a characteristic feature. 'Colorful border town, long-lived Jinping' is the local slogan for this city. Ma'andi Township is located to the east of Jinping County, bordering Vietnam, with a land area of 284.7 square kilometers and a border line stretching 156 kilometers. The forest coverage rate reaches 70%, and within its territory are the Bianshuiyan Folk Village, Pinghe Grassland, Lading Waterfall, Tiansheng Bridge, and other scenic spots. The area is home to over 400 species from 11 of the 12 butterfly families found in China, earning it the reputation of 'China's Honghe Butterfly Valley.' Every year from May to June, a spectacular scene unfolds with hundreds of millions of butterflies dancing in the air. The region has a significant elevation range (116 meters to 3012 meters), with cloud-shrouded mountains and vast green expanses. The vertical climate is distinct, with a clear vertical zonation. The unique climate has led to a well-preserved biodiversity of vertical vegetation types, including ancient tea tree groves spanning thousands of acres. The Yao community - ancient tea-making techniques Ma'andi Township is an ethnic enclave, home to the Miao, Yao, Hani, Yi, and Han nationalities. Minority cultural traditions are well-preserved here, with the distinctive Red-headed Yao being located in this area. The name Red-headed Yao comes from the women's unique headwear, where only a tuft of hair is left on the top of the head, wrapped in a red cloth about a meter long and 50 centimeters wide, shaped into a conical or cylindrical form, resembling a blooming banana flower. Nowadays, influenced by Han culture, some Red-headed Yao women have started to grow their hair long, but they still retain the tradition of wrapping their heads in red cloth. With the support of the local government, local tea factories have combined traditional tea-making techniques with ancient local methods, continuously improving them. The tea production and quality have significantly increased. The ancient tree tea is made by the local Red-headed Yao, with thick and robust buds and leaves, a rich aroma, a smooth taste, a lingering sweetness, durability in brewing, a yellow soup color, and an excellent refreshing taste. After being busy for so long, why not take some time off for yourself, visit Jinping, dance with the butterflies in the mountains, and savor a cup of ancient tree tea made by the Red-headed Yao under the magnificent Lading Waterfall.

Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, located in the southeast of Yunnan, as early as the Western Han Dynasty, this place was the southwestern frontier of the Chinese land. On this land, there are ethnic minorities such as the Yi, Hani, and Miao, who drink the water of the Red River together, take pride in the beautiful mother river, different ethnic groups and different cultures, take root and sprout on this land, the blending of ethnic cultures, has bred the leisurely posture that Yunnan and Honghe have. Having seen the movie 'Youth', I am familiar with the Bisezhai train station in Mengzi; I have heard of Confucius' teachings and understood the Confucius Temple in Jianshui; China's only city glass plank road, there is a city view integrated Pingbian Drip Water Miao City, there is a paradise-like Jinping Butterfly Valley, there is a magical Alu Ancient Cave in Luxi. The leisurely culture of the Red River allows this place to inherit the food culture, Jianshui's purple pottery, grass buds; Mengzi's rice cakes, crossing the bridge rice noodles, sweet pomegranates, Shiping's tofu; Pingbian's clam wine, bear bile wine, Red River cigarettes; Lvchun's Ma Jade tea, Luxi's Dongshan ham; Yuanyang's Nansha dry bar, terraced red rice,; Hekou's pineapple, banana, litchi. The leisure here is also the leisure of Yunnan, come to Yunnan, come to the Red River to take a look, experience the leisure that Yunnan brings to you.