Jinghong Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 景洪 (jǐng hóng)
Population: 547,700
Area: 6,867 square kilometers (2,651 square miles)
Location: in the south of Yunnan, southwest China
Area Code: 0691
Zip Code: 666100
GDP (2019): CNY 29.483 billion (USD 4.274 billion)
Nationalities: Dai, Hani, Jinuo, Yao, Zhuang

Located in the south of Yunnan Province, Jinghong is the political, economic and cultural center of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which is a supernatural oasis in southwest China, while Jinghong is just a bright pearl in the oasis. It is 560 kilometers (345 miles) from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Jinghong features charming tropical natural scenery and colorful ethnic customs. The Wild Elephant Valley densely forested and frequented by Asian wild elephants and the Manting Park with beautiful scenery, wonderful performances and bonfire party are highlights. If you want to experience the Dai customs, you should pay a visit to Xishuangbanna Nationality Culture Park with many Dai traditional residences, interesting folk activities, excellent performances and a lively water-splash activity. Temples with distinctive architectural styles in Southeast Asian countries are also eye-catching.

Additionally, there are many cultural and scientific institutes here, including Yunnan Institute of Tropical Craps, Yunnan National Laboratory primate Center of China and the largest butterfly farms of China. The city has the most enchanting tropical landscape. The main scenic spots worthwhile visiting are the Peacock Lake, Chunhuan Park, Manjinglan Tourism Village, Folk-Custom garden, Dai Garden (the village of the Dai ethnic group) and Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park.

Passengers can take flights to get to Xishuangbanna Airport (Xishuangbanna Jinghong Airport), which is the second largest airport in Yunnan Province. Express highway system is well-developed in the city that can reach Burma and Thailand. Besides, city-buses, bicycle, rickshaw and taxi bring a lot of convenient for tourists to go around the city.

 History: This place was named as Jingyong, Jinglong and Cheli in history, where a total of 13 nationalities live together such as Dai, Hani, Jinuo, Bulang, Hui and Yao. The population of the ethnic minorities takes up 66.7% of the total population. In 1180, Payazhen, the leader of Dai people, established Jinglong Kingdom. In 1269 of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Jinghong Kingdom was changed into Cheli Army and People General Government which was re-changed into Cheli Xuanwei Shisi (pacification office) in 1384 of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In 1570, the commissioner of Cheli Xuanwei Shisi divided its territory into 12 Banna (12 parts). In 1927, Cheli Xuanwei Shisi was made as Cheli County, and then was renamed as Jinghong County in 1958. Finally, it was upgraded as a city in 1993.

 Physical Features: Enjoying the fame as 'Green Treasury' and 'Gene Pool of Species', the region keeps a large area of tropical rainforest, including oil palms, coconut palms and mango trees as well as various other tropical plants grown wherever in the parks, on the sides of the streets, in front of or behind the houses.