Jinghong The People's Republic of China Information Location: located between 10025' - 10131' east longitude and 2127' - 2236' north latitude. Jinghong is 709 kilometers from Kunming, 110 kilometers from Chiang Rai, 288.5 kilometers from Myanmar and 677.8 kilometers from PDR Lao. Neighboring Areas: Sichuan Province and Guizhou Province; Tibet Autonomous Region and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Physical Features: bounded to the south by Hengduan Range and descending from south to north Population: 817,800 (collected in 1998) Urban Population: 94,162 Area: 7,003 sq km Climatic Features: situated between north tropical zone and south sub-tropical zone; humid monsoon climate, which combined the virtues of continental and marine climate, with long summer and no obvious winter; sunlight of 1800-2300 hours Average Temperature: 18.6C -21.9C Rainfall: annual average rainfall of 1200-1700mm Rivers: Lancang River Local Highlights: Water Splashing Festival, the village of Dai ethnic group, folk customs of ethnic groups About 600 kms to the North, and slightly to the East, of Chiangmai is Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China. Within Yunnan is the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and its Capital city of Jinghong, The City of the Dawn. Jinghong is a beautiful place which, although part of China, seems reminiscent of Northern Thailand. It is to this geographic region that most Thai people trace their ancestral roots. To every Thai, this is SIPSONG PANNA, "Xishuangbanna" in Chinese, from where the Dai (Tai) migrated many centuries ago. In Thai, Sipsong Panna means "twelve thousand rice fields". For centuries, the Dai people had been drifting southwest into what is now northern Burma, Laos and Northern Thailand. This migratory process was speeded thanks to the aggression of Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) especially after he razed the city of Talifu in 1253. Talifu had been the capital of the Dai Kingdom of Nanjao in Yunnan Province. Among local scenic spots are Peacock Lake, Manting Park, the Dai Nationality Culture and Customs Garden, Manjinglan Nationality Flavor Food City, and the Tropical Botany Institute. The many Buddhist pagodas of Xishuangbanna, all different in character, are a popular tourist destination. The most outstanding ones of all are the two near Jinghong, the White Pagoda of Menglong and Black Pagoda of Damenglong. Manfeilong Pagoda The famous pagoda is in Damenglong village which is 70 kilometres south of Jinghong and only a few kilometres from the Sino-Burma border. The silver pagoda was built in 1204 in honor of a footprint said to be left by Sakyamuni himself during his visit in the area. The pagoda actually consists of 9 stupas, with the primary stupa in the centre while the other 8 smaller stupas clustering to its base. The primary stupa rises 55 feet. Bells hung on the stupas give wonderful tinkles in the breezes. Below one of the stupas and in a niche the Buddha's footprint is enshrined. Not that far across a small valley, there is another black pagoda which is less famous. National Ethnic Group Park National Ethnic Group Park is situated near Liusha River in the southern suburb of Jinghong, 4 km away from the airport. The park, consisting of south section and north section, covers a space of 67 hectares. Featuring rare tropical plants and animals as well as ethnic group customs, the park is a showcase of the beautiful Xishuangbanna. Tropical Plant Research Institute Lying at the western suburb of Jinghong, the institute exerts a strong pull on tourists although it opens to public just a few years. In additional rubber plantation, the institute plants over 1,000 plants with economical or medicinal value. The large variety needs a botanist to figure out what they are. In the plantation, visitors get access to Zhou Enlai Memorial, which was built to commemorate the China's beloved premier's 1961 visit. Jinghong City, Black and White Pagodas Beautiful and fascinating Xishuangbanna is famous all over the world, and is a very popular Yunnan tourist destination. Jinghong city is the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture. The city retains the characteristics of the tropical rainforest landscape by which it is surrounded; it also has a strong flavor of the customs of the local national minority groups. Among local scenic spots are Peacock Lake, Manting Park, the Dai Nationality Culture and Customs Garden, Manjinglan Nationality Flavor Food City, and the Tropical Botany Institute. The many Buddhist pagodas of Xishuangbanna, all different in character, are a popular tourist destination. The most outstanding ones of all are the two near Jinghong, the White Pagoda of Menglong and Black Pagoda of Damenglong. Jinghong is 709 kilometers from Kunming. Travellers have a choice of coach or air transport. Xi Shuang Ban Na Xi Shuang Ban Na Scenic Area is situated in the Dai Nationality Prefecture, Yunnan Province, through which the beautiful Lan Cang River flows from north to south. It is one of the important scenic spots of the whole country. The specialty of Xi Shuang Ban Na Scenic Area lies in its the primeval forest, tropical monsoon forest, precious ornamental plants. There are wild animals etc. tropical landscape of nature and abundant local conditions and life styles, special local customs of minority nationalities, the combination of dwelling construction with villages within garden, all showing typical and beautiful southern scenery. Ban Na Budhist Pagodas There are omnipresent and multiple. The minority nationalities with Dai minority nationality as the main one, mostly are disciples of Hinayan in Budhism. Among these pagodas, Manfeilong white Pagodas were built in 1207, which are pagoda groups with one "parent pagoda" and eight subsidiary ones commonly called White Pagodas. The "parent pagoda" is about 20 meters high while subsidiary ones 10 meters, all of which are built of bricks, looking like bottle gourds. The pinnacles stand straightly high touching the blue sky.

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