//
Autonomous prefecture in Yunnan, China
Photo: Chlukoe, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Xishuangbanna (often just Banna is used; Chinese: 西双版纳; Lü: ᧑᧒ ᦗᧃ ᦓᦱ) is an autonomous prefecture in the south of Yunnan, near the Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese and Burmese borders. The ethnic groups and the local languages in this area are more Southeast Asian than Chinese. The region is a very popular destination for Chinese tourists. It offers most of the attractions of Thailand — warm climate, tropical fruits and flowers, elephants, jungle treks, cultural diversity, and a reasonably well-established tourist industry — without the complications of a border or different language and currency.
By plane
Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport JHG in Jinghong City has some flights from Chinese cities, but much the most frequent are from Kunming.
By highway
There is a highway south from Kunming into this region, via Pu'er.
By train
Xishuangbanna Railway Station in Jinghong gets more than 20 trains per day from Kunming. The journey time from Kunming to Jinghong is about 3 to 4 hours.
By taxi
The starting price of taxis in Xishuangbanna is ¥7 (3 kilometers), including ¥2 fuel surcharge.
Rent battery cart
There are many places in Xishuangbanna where you can rent battery cars (or a shared battery car parked on the side of the road).
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Jinghong (Gasa) · International · JHG
Loading places around the airport…
Jinghong (Chinese: 景洪; Jǐnghóng, Lü: ᦵᦋᧂ ᦣᦳᧂᧈ) is the capital of Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan. It is a hub for Chinese package tourists as well as for travellers passing between China and Laos.
Mengla (Chinese: 勐腊, Lü: ᦵᦙᦲᧂ ᦟᦱᧉ) is a county in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southern Yunnan Province, China. Situated along the border with Laos and Myanmar, it is a gateway to the tropical landscapes and rich ethnic minority cultures of southwest China, featuring rainforest parks, rivers, botanical gardens, tea areas, and traditional Dai and other minority communities.
Menghai County (勐海县; Ménghǎi Xiàn) is a county under the administration of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southern Yunnan Province, China. The county is internationally known as one of the most important production centers of Pu’er tea, particularly ripe (shu) Pu’er, and as a core region of ancient tea mountains associated with the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
Mohan (Chinese: 磨憨 Móhān, Lü: ᦷᦙᧉ ᦆᦱᧃᧈ) is a small border town in Mengla County at very south end of Yunnan Province in China.
Articles and travel topics about Xishuangbanna and China.
Travel tipsWho can visit China visa-free in 2026: the 30-day list (now including the UK and Canada), the 240-hour transit rule, and how to set up mobile payments.
7 min read
Travel tipsFind out how much does a trip to China cost in 2026. Compare realistic daily budgets for bullet trains, hotels, dining, mobile payments, and top sights.
9 min read
InspirationCelebrate Chinese New Year 2027 with festival dates, temple blessings, lantern displays, and top party spots across Singapore, Penang, and Taipei.
7 min read
Travel tipsCompare travel eSIMs for international trips in 2026. Review Airalo, Ubigi, Nomad, and Holafly for coverage in Europe, Japan, and China.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.