Xishuangbanna Region
Xishuangbanna suits a slow trip built around Jinghong, Dai villages and rainforest day trips toward the Laos border.
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Xishuangbanna is a Dai autonomous prefecture in the tropical south of Yunnan, in southwest China, and shares a border with Laos. Jinghong, the prefecture seat, is the main base. It sits on the Lancang River, the Chinese name for the upper Mekong. Gasa Airport serves Jinghong, and the Mohan road and rail port leads across the border into Laos. A trip here suits travelers who want a slow pace.
Visitors come for rainforest, tea and rubber plantations, and Dai villages where houses on stilts sit beside Theravada Buddhist temples with pagoda-style stupas. Plan four to seven days: a few nights in Jinghong and one or two day trips to villages or the botanical garden. The cool dry season is the most comfortable time to walk and ride. The Water Splashing Festival in mid-April is a highlight, but expect crowds and book rooms early.
Xishuangbanna Region in five
- Read the UK note on the Myanmar borderThe UK government says there is continuing violence on the Myanmar side of the China-Myanmar border, which has occasionally spilled over into China. Stay on main routes and check advice before border-area trips.UK regional risks
- Do not borrow the ASEAN group ruleThe National Immigration Administration's Xishuangbanna rule covers ASEAN tourist groups of two or more with a registered Chinese agency, for up to 6 days. Other visitors use the nationwide visa-free list or a visa.NIA regional policies
- Fly into Xishuangbanna Gasa AirportThe NIA names Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway Port and Mohan Highway Port as the entry points for its group rule. Most independent visitors arrive by domestic flight or rail via Kunming.Kunming
- Time the cool dry season or the water festivalHighs stay in the low 30s most of the year. November to February is cooler and drier, and mid-April brings the Dai water-splashing festival, with crowds and fuller hotels. Book early if you go then.
- Use bottled water and insect repellentThe UK government says tap water in China is generally not safe to drink, and that dengue is present in parts of China mainly in the May to November rains. A tropical prefecture is a good place to be careful.UK health advice
Things to do in Xishuangbanna Region
See all attractions in Xishuangbanna RegionNeed to know
- Airport
- Xishuangbanna Gasa (JHG), serving Jinghong
- Getting there
- Domestic flights; Mohan rail and road ports lie toward Laos
- Getting around
- Buses and taxis from Jinghong
- Best base
- Jinghong, for day trips across the prefecture
- Time needed
- 3 to 5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Cool, dryJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low13°Dry, warmFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low17°Hot, dryMarchClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Water festivalAprilClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Water festival
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, rainMayRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, rain
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°RainyJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 245 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- JulyRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°RainyJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 327 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- AugustRain28 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low21°RainyAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 396 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- SeptemberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low21°RainySeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 296 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- OctoberRain19 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low19°Cooler, rainOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Cooler, rain
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Cool, dryNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Cool, dryDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Jinghong, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Xishuangbanna Region
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 3 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Xishuangbanna Region
04:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°21°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°21°51%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Thu31°22°59%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Fri29°22°94%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Sat28°21°100%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun28°20°61%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Mon27°19°82%Monday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 82%.
Updated 01:45 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
Before you go to Xishuangbanna Region
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Xishuangbanna Region, checked
- There is continuing violence on the Myanmar side of the China-Myanmar border, which has occasionally spilled over into China.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- ASEAN tourist groups of two or more, via a registered Chinese agency, may enter Xishuangbanna visa-free and stay up to 6 days.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Tap water in China is generally not safe to drink; use bottled water.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Xishuangbanna Region
The flight hub for Yunnan
Read the guideDaliErhai Lake, a day by rail from Kunming
Read the guideLijiangNaxi old town in the northwest
Read the guideMoney and costs in ChinaCash for markets and small villages
Read the guideAll of ChinaVisa-free entry, payments, trains and cities
Read the guideChina visa-free entryThe 30-day list and the 240-hour transit
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical cover and delays
Read the guideXishuangbanna Region FAQ
Where is Xishuangbanna and what is it known for?
It is the Dai autonomous prefecture in the far south of Yunnan, with Jinghong as its base and Mohan ports toward Laos. It is known for tropical forest, Dai culture and the mid-April water-splashing festival.
Can I visit Xishuangbanna visa-free?
Independent visitors use the nationwide visa-free list for their passport or a visa. The NIA's Xishuangbanna rule covers only ASEAN tourist groups of two or more through a registered Chinese agency, for up to 6 days.
Is it safe near the Myanmar border?
The UK government says there is continuing violence on the Myanmar side, which has occasionally spilled over into China. Stay on main tourist routes, avoid border-area detours and check the latest UK advice.
When is the best time to visit Xishuangbanna?
November to February for cooler, drier weather. April is hot but brings the water festival, and June to September is rainy. The UK government notes dengue risk in the May to November rains.
How many days do you need in Xishuangbanna?
Three to five days from Jinghong for a forest day, a Dai village and a market. Add a day for the water festival crowds in April, and allow extra time for onward flights through Kunming.