Dai Ethnic Park & Manyuan Village Day Tour Guide in XishuangBanna
Hello everyone! This time, I finally arrived at Olive Dam (橄榄坝) in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) and had an amazing day tour visiting Dai Ethnic Park (傣族园) and Manyuan Village (曼远村). From the water-splashing activities in the morning to the family-friendly fun in the afternoon, the day was both fulfilling and exciting. Let me share my experience with you!
Itinerary Overview:
- Dai Ethnic Park (傣族园) → Manyuan Village (曼远村)
We departed from Jinghong City (景洪市) at 8:00 AM, driving south for about an hour to reach Xishuangbanna Dai Ethnic Park (西双版纳傣族园). This park preserves the most authentic traditional lifestyle of the Dai ethnic group, featuring attractions such as the Welcome Square (迎宾广场), Manchunman Ancient Buddha Temple (曼春满古佛寺), and Manting Buddhist Temple (曼听佛寺). The ticket costs 45 yuan per person, offering excellent value!
First Stop: Welcome Square (迎宾广场)
Upon entering, you’ll immediately feel the warm atmosphere of the Welcome Square (迎宾广场). The square hosts water-splashing events daily, held at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Don’t forget to bring a water bucket, as the splash performances are lively and fun. Be sure to bring a change of clothes too!
Second Stop: Manchunman Ancient Buddha Temple (曼春满古佛寺)
The Manchunman Ancient Buddha Temple (曼春满古佛寺), with a history of 1,400 years, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳). The architecture is ancient and elegant, showcasing the essence of Dai culture, making it a perfect spot for taking photos 📸.
Third Stop: Manting Buddhist Temple (曼听佛寺)
Next, we walked to the Manting Buddhist Temple (曼听佛寺), where we enjoyed a traditional Dai song and dance performance. The performance recreates the story of the Dai King’s marriage proposal, offering a magnificent spectacle. The dances and songs highlight the core of Dai culture.
Outdoor theater performance times:
- First show: 11:00 AM
- Second show: 3:00 PM
Fourth Stop: Peacock Garden (孔雀园)
Finally, we visited the Peacock Garden (孔雀园), where the children were thrilled to see peacocks spread their tails. This is a great spot for a family-friendly tour.
For lunch, we dined at a restaurant inside the park, where we enjoyed authentic Dai dishes, such as lemongrass grilled chicken (香茅烤鸡) and Dai-style barbecue (傣族特色烧烤). The prices were affordable, and the taste was delicious! 👍
Afternoon Visit to Manyuan Village (曼远村)
At 2:00 PM, we drove to Manyuan Village (曼远村), which was named one of China’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Villages (中国十大最美乡村) by CCTV in 2017. It is only a 20-minute drive from Dai Ethnic Park (傣族园). Manyuan Village preserves the original Dai architecture, with magnificent golden temples nestled among tropical flowers, offering a unique atmosphere.
First Stop: Mushroom House (蘑菇屋)
We visited the Mushroom House (蘑菇屋), featured in the variety show “Longing for Life” (向往的生活). The ticket costs 20 yuan per person. We took some photos and experienced the same kitchen and swings from the show – it was a lot of fun!
Second Stop: Mountain Top Buddhist Temple (山顶佛寺)
Next, we walked up the red stairs to visit the Mountain Top Buddhist Temple (山顶佛寺). The red staircase makes for great photo opportunities 📸. From the temple, you can overlook the entire village. Below the temple, there’s an ancient well where it’s said that washing your hands in the water brings good luck.
Third Stop: Thousand-Year Banyan Tree (千年榕树)
We then visited the Thousand-Year Banyan Tree (千年榕树), which feels like an entire forest in one tree. It’s truly spectacular and perfect for photography 📸.
Fourth Stop: Strolling the Village and Eating Fruit (逛村吃水果)
As we walked around the village, we saw that each courtyard was filled with flowers and fruits. The fresh pineapples (小菠萝), papayas (木瓜), and mangoes (芒果) were especially delicious. You could buy 3 small pineapples for 10 yuan or 2 papayas for 10 yuan. It was incredibly pleasant to enjoy the fresh fruit while exploring the village.
Finally, we had a meal at a village restaurant, enjoying authentic Dai-style barbecue (傣味烧烤). I highly recommend the grilled fish (烤鱼) and lemongrass grilled chicken (香茅烤鸡)—they have a unique flavor and are reasonably priced. We also picked up some Laos ice coffee (老挝冰咖啡) to enjoy back at the hotel.
Travel Tips:
1️⃣ Transportation: It’s recommended to drive yourself as the park and Manyuan Village (曼远村) are located far from the city center, and self-driving is more convenient.
2️⃣ Tickets: You need to buy separate tickets for Dai Ethnic Park (傣族园) and Manyuan Village (曼远村). It’s best to buy tickets on the left side, which offers better value for money.
3️⃣ Sun Protection and Mosquito Repellent: The sun in Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) is very strong, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun and bring mosquito repellent.
4️⃣ Time Arrangement: It’s recommended to leave at 8:00 AM and return to Jinghong (景洪) around 5:00 PM to make the most of your day.
This day trip to Olive Dam (橄榄坝) was a perfect mix of exploring the majestic ancient temples and cultural performances at Dai Ethnic Park (傣族园) and enjoying the original and picturesque Dai village life at Manyuan Village (曼远村). The day was both enriching and fun. I hope this guide helps those planning a visit here!
