History of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture

Ancient Period (Pre-109 BCE)

• Inhabited by Dai (傣族) and other ethnic groups
• Part of the ancient “Dianxiang” (滇象) tribal region
• Developed early agricultural civilization with rice cultivation

Imperial Era (109 BCE – 1911)

• 109 BCE: Incorporated into the Han Dynasty’s Yizhou Commandery (益州郡)
• 8th-12th century: Became the center of the “Mengbalaxi” (勐巴拉娜西) Dai kingdom
• 1180: Established as the “Jinglong Golden Hall Kingdom” (景龙金殿国)
• 13th-19th century: Ruled by the Cheli Xuanweishi (车里宣慰使) under imperial China’s tusi (土司) system

Modern Period (1912-1949)

• 1913: Reorganized as Pu’er Circuit (普洱道)
• 1927: Became part of Yunnan Province’s administrative system
• WWII: Strategic location along the Burma Road (滇缅公路)

Contemporary Era (1950-Present)

• January 23, 1953: Established as Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture
• 1980s: Began developing as a major tourist destination
• 1990s: Designated as a key border economic cooperation zone
• 2000s: Became China’s leading rubber and tea production base
• 2010s: Developed as a hub for ecological tourism and BRI connections to Southeast Asia

Key Historical Notes:

• The name “Xishuangbanna” comes from the Dai language “Sipsongpanna” (十二千田), meaning “twelve rice-growing districts”
• Maintained the most complete Dai cultural traditions in China
• Served as a bridge for Buddhist cultural exchange between China and Southeast Asia
• Unique matrilineal social structures preserved among some ethnic groups

The prefecture’s history reflects its dual role as:

1. A frontier zone between Chinese civilization and Southeast Asia
2. A cultural preserve for diverse ethnic traditions
3. An ecological treasure trove (China’s only tropical rainforest)