Jinghong is a beautiful place and one that you will get to experience if you take one of our Mekong River Cruises. It is a city in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture which is in the Yunnan Province in South China. Jinghong is a famous destination and one that we highly recommend you see if you take a Pandaw river cruise!
Temple at Jinghong
A History Of Jinghong
Meng Bala Nax, which means 'ideal and magical paradise' are words that many people use to describe this place. It was founded in 1180, by the Tai King Phana Coyeng. It was originally named Chiang Hung but was later renamed to Jinghong. Jinghong has had its fair share of history throughout the Yuan and Ming Dynasty, making it a culturally rich destination to stop off at on your cruise.
Attractions To See
The Dai Water Splashing Festival is definitely something that you should experience. This is a New Year Celebration that takes place in Jinghong and is a beautiful spectacle for all those who behold it. This is not New Year as you know it, but rather this festival takes place on the 13th/15th of April every year to celebrate the Dai New Year. It is the most important festival in the Dai culture, and it is something that you are not going to want to miss if you happen to be in the area on these dates.
As well as this, there are a whole host of small villages nearby that are full of people from different cultures. You can visit these places as many of them are not far from the river that you will be travelling on, and experience a completely different way of life to what you are used to.
Obviously, you aren’t going to want to go too far from the boat, but you can consider heading to one of Jinghongs botanical gardens. There are at least three gardens in the city for you to explore! Jinghong also has multiple Buddhist temples that you can visit to experience the lives of the native population.
Why Is Jinghong Famous?
There is a long history of the Dai Culture in Jinghong, but over the last few centuries, more people have travelled and settled here. Like we said above, you can visit some of the nearby villages to see the different ways of life that are now inhabiting this place. The Dai people have a long and rich history, with some of their dances being known throughout the world.
Many Dai people live in bamboo houses, which is the traditional minority buildings in China.
Best way to experience Jinghong
The best way to experience Jinghong is on our Mekong: From Laos to China cruise where you get to visit the Tropical Plant Institute, Manting Park and experience a cultural show where dancers from 38 different ethinic groups.
