Xishuangbanna 5 Days 4 Nights College Student Guide

—— From tropical rainforests to Dai villages, explore the border’s little Thailand for just 1500 RMB per person! —— 📍 Itinerary (Cool & Budget Version) Day 1: First Experience in Jinghong City ⏰ Afternoon: - 【Manting Park + Grand Buddha Temple】(Student ticket 20 RMB) ✅ Wear Dai costume (rent 30 RMB/set) for “pretend you’re in Thailand” photos ✅ Arrive before 17:30 for elephant show (free but controversial, optional) ⏰ Evening: - 【Starlight Night Market】✅ Eat smashed chicken feet (10 RMB), coconut smoothie (15 RMB) ✅ Take Dai-style photos for 199 RMB (bargain tip: choose the basic package) 🌙 Overnight: Gaozhuang Hostel (50 RMB per person, recommend “Pineapple Inn”) Day 2: Chinese Academy of Sciences Tropical Botanical Garden ⏰ All day: - 【West Zone】Check out the giant water lilies (2-meter diameter leaves in July!) ✅ Ride the giant water lily for photos (weight limit 40kg, 60 RMB/person) ✅ Find the “dancing grass,” it moves when you sing to it - 【East Zone】Hike the primary rainforest ✅ See strangler figs and sky-reaching trees, bring mosquito repellent! 🚌 Transport: Jinghong → Botanical Garden bus (23 RMB, 1.5 hours) 🌙 Overnight: Water Lily Hotel inside Botanical Garden (shared room 120 RMB per person, free firefly watching at night) Day 3: Wild Elephant Valley + Jino Ethnic Village ⏰ Morning: - 【Wild Elephant Valley】(Student ticket 30 RMB) ✅ Walk the canopy walkway and maybe spot wild elephants (10% chance) ✅ Watch elephant school performances (9:30/11:00 shows) ⏰ Afternoon: - 【Jino Ethnic Village】(Student ticket 60 RMB) ✅ Drink clay pot roasted tea, join ethnic bamboo pole dance ✅ Try Jino-style grilled fish (15 RMB/serving) 🌙 Overnight: Jinghong City (recommend “Yunding Inn,” rooftop pool 80 RMB per person) Day 4: Mengyuan Wonderland Rainforest Trek ⏰ All day: - 【Light hike】3 km (Student ticket 198 RMB including guide) ✅ Wade through streams, climb trees, enjoy rainforest feast (banana leaf wrapped roast) ✅ Look for wild mangoes and dripping anthuriums ⚠️ Notes: - Wear quick-dry clothes + non-slip shoes, rubber shoes rental 20 RMB/pair in the park - Use waterproof phone pouch, sudden heavy rain possible in rainy season Day 5: Manyuan Village + Return ⏰ Morning: - 【Manyuan Village】“The Life We Long For” mushroom house ✅ Make Dai pottery (30 RMB experience), eat mango sticky rice ✅ Ride electric scooter through banana groves (rent 30 RMB/day) ⏰ Afternoon: - 【Tropical Fruit Market】✅ Buy small pineapples for 5 RMB each, pack durian (can be checked in at airport) ⚠️ Pitfall Avoidance Guide 1. Transport tips: - Use Didi for taxis in Gaozhuang! Roadside unlicensed taxis charge double - Don’t charter a car to the Botanical Garden (bus 23 RMB vs charter 300 RMB) 2. Shopping traps: - 90% of “Burmese jade” at night markets are fake, students should just look - Use JD or SF Express for fruit shipping, street courier points often swap packages 3. Heat prevention essentials: - Carry Huoxiang Zhengqi water! Rainforest humidity causes heatstroke easily - Sunscreen SPF50+, UV index often very high 📸 Off-the-beaten-path photo spots Scene Photo Tips Outfit Suggestions Botanical Garden Water Lilies Lie down + wide angle to show huge leaves Bright camisole + straw hat Manting Imperial Garden Use leaves as foreground to shoot white pagoda Dai costume + silver belt Rainforest Swing Burst mode to capture highest swing moment Cargo pants + Martin boots 🍍 Food Hits & Misses Must Eat Recommended Spot Avoid Average Price Smashed Chicken Feet Starlight Night Market “Xiaoyu Dai Flavor” Don’t buy pre-packaged 10 RMB Lemongrass Grilled Fish Manfeilong Grilled Fish Avoid “wild fish” gimmicks 35 RMB Puluda Wan Thai Lao Iced Coffee Choose less sugar version for freshness 15 RMB Durian Mange Fruit Market Don’t buy peeled fruit 30 RMB/jin 💰 5-Day Expense Reference Item Total Cost Per Person Money-saving Tips Flight 1000 RMB Depends on departure (train alternative) Accommodation 320 RMB 80 RMB/night Stay in hostels, shared rooms Tickets 348 RMB 40% off with student ID Food 400 RMB Snacks + fruit on your own Total 2068 RMB 1500 RMB excluding flight Senior’s Quote: “Jumped when ants bit me in the rainforest, but the moment I saw the firefly galaxy—totally worth it!”