Mangshi, Ruili, Tengchong | Slow Life in Border Towns

We spent the Spring Festival in the border towns of Yunnan this year, and it was an amazing experience. The scenery is beautiful, life is slow, there are many delicious foods, the cost of living is low, and the people are simple and honest. If you are tired of the popular attractions in Yunnan, these three relatively niche border towns may be the perfect destination for your next trip. ✅ [Mangshi] ⭐ Itinerary: Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda (CNY 40) ➡️ Menghuan Grand Silver Pagoda (CNY 40) ➡️ Mengbana Rare Park (CNY 40) ⏰ Duration: 1–2 days ⚠️ Tips: 1⃣️ The Golden Pagoda and Silver Pagoda are together and can be visited together. The Rare Park is at the foot of the mountain. Some travel apps offer joint tickets for the Golden Pagoda and Rare Park, which are relatively cheaper, but be sure to plan your time well to avoid running out of time to visit both places. 2⃣️ During major holidays, there will be traffic restrictions, and you will not be able to drive up the mountain. You will have to take a public bus to visit the Golden and Silver Pagodas (ticket price: CNY 2 per trip). 🍱 Recommended food places: Best Food City (all kinds of food are available here) 💚 Recommended restaurants: Ganying Chicken Feet, Aguji Myanmar Restaurant (Myanmar Oil Noodles, Shuaibaba), Menghuan Laonai (the famous Paluda is here, but I personally think it's too sweet), Bad Road Breakfast (Ersi, Rice Noodles) ✅ [Ruili] ⭐ Itinerary: One Tree Forest (CNY 15) ➡️ Jiegao Border Gate ➡️ China-Myanmar Street ➡️ One Village Two Countries (CNY 40) ➡️ Zongfo Temple ➡️ Dai Palace ➡️ Mori Primitive Forest Park (Mori Waterfall) ⏰ Duration: 1.5 days 🍱 Recommended food places: Myanmar-Thai Special Tea Restaurant, Ruili Comprehensive Farmers Market (Egg Baba, Milk Tea Coffee, Beef Soup Noodles, Xidoufen Ersi) ✅ [Tengchong] ⭐ Itinerary: Heshun Ancient Town (CNY 55) ➡️ Volcano Geological Park (CNY 35) ➡️ Beihai Wetland (CNY 55) ➡️ Rehai (CNY 50) ➡️ Simola Wa Village ➡️ Soak in Angsana Hot Spring (CNY 237) ⏰ Duration: 3–5 days ⚠️ Tips: 1⃣️ The ticket for Heshun Ancient Town is valid for 7 days, and you can enter and exit the scenic area multiple times within 7 days. The ancient town is very large, so it is recommended to spend more than one day there. 2⃣️ Both the Volcano Geological Park and Rehai require climbing, so if you are not physically fit, you can ride a horse or take a hot air balloon in the Volcano Geological Park, or take a glider. In Rehai, you can take a shuttle bus (CNY 10 per trip). 3⃣️ Simola Wa Village does not require a ticket, but you need to take a shuttle bus (CNY 20 per person round trip). 🍱 Recommended restaurants (since we stayed in the ancient town, the recommended restaurants are all in the ancient town) Heshun Family Feast Private Kitchen, Niuniu Family Copper Pot Beef Hot Pot, Wumu Liangtian Mushroom Soup Hot Pot 🚦 Transportation guide to the three cities: 🚅 Train: Since Mangshi, Ruili, and Tengchong do not have high-speed rail stations, you can take a train to Baoshan Station, and then take a bus, charter a car, or rent a car to travel. 🚗 Car: 🟢 Baoshan–Mangshi (160 km, 2.5 hours) 🔵 Mangshi–Ruili (100 km, 2 hours) 🟠 Ruili–Tengchong (200 km, 3 hours) ✈️ Airport: Tengchong Tuofeng Airport, Dehong Mangshi Airport, you can choose according to your itinerary