5 Days in Xishuangbanna

Gasa airport is about 6 km from downtown. Aim for the Golden Pagoda's 66 metres before dusk, then the night market near 19:00 — book a riverside table or eat standing among the grill stalls.

1. xishuangbanna gaozhuang xishuangjing
2. xishuangbanna mekong star night market

Around 70 km and 1 hour from Jinghong. The garden, set up in 1959, spreads over 11.25 square kilometres with 13,000-plus species — take the shuttle for the west section and budget about 80 yuan for entry.

1. xishuangbanna menglun botanical garden

Both stops lie north-east of the city along the same corridor — the elephant valley 35 km out, the Jinuo village about 25 km. China's roughly 300 wild Asian elephants roam this area; the Jinuo people were officially recognised as the nation's 56th ethnic group in 1979.

1. xishuangbanna wild elephant valley
2. xishuangbanna jinuo village

The garden sits in Ganlanba about 35 km south, five Dai villages around the 1,400-year-old Manchunman temple; the daily water-splashing show is a rehearsal-sized taste of the April festival. Return north and stop at the Primeval Forest Park, about 8 km from town, for the peacock release.

1. xishuangbanna dai garden
2. xishuangbanna primeval forest park

Keep the last day slow — Manting Park's royal grounds of 1,300-plus years and neighbouring Zongfo Temple sit 15 minutes from the centre, with the evening Dai show if your flight leaves late.

1. xishuangbanna manting park
2. xishuangbanna zongfo temple