Manting Park in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna
Chinese Name: 曼听公园（Man Ting Gong Yuan)/春欢公园(Chunhuan Gongyuan)
Keywords: Manting Park Tickets, Chunhuan Park, Park of Soul,
Location: No. 35 Manting Road, Jinghong City，Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province
Scenic Area: 28.5 Acres
Admission Fee: 54 RMB for ticket, A Ticket including Fire Evening Party and buffet is CNY 480 for a VIP seat, CNY 380 for a A seat and CNY 280 for a B seat.
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30 (6 to 8 hours for a visit)
Recommended Visiting Hours: 6-8 hours
Manting Park
Manting Park, also called Chunhuan Park,（Chinese name: 春欢公园 or 曼听公园） is the oldest garden in Xishuangbanna area, which covers an area of 23,540 square meters. It used to be the imperial garden in ancient times. Its name “Chunhuan” in Dai language means “Soul”. The whole park can be divided into 8 sightseeing areas, they are National Cultural Square, Liana Zone, Tropical Orchid Garden, Peacock Garden, Lake Area and Buddhism Cultural Zone, Tree Planting Zone and Tea Garden. In the day time, people can appreciate the beauty of varied tropical plants and creatures, but at night, a different experience can let the tourists get a closer look of local customs and culture – Minority Dancing Show and Bonfire Party.
Why is Manting Park so special?
Manting Park boasts not only the unique natural scenery, but also artificial rare flowers and architecture. With the radiant and enchanting scenery, dense forest and a great variety of fruit trees, it is an ideal tourist attraction for people to go sightseeing. Manting Park is the oldest park in Jinghong with a history of over 1,300 years. Manting Park is the carrier of Dai culture. It is the main venue to hold grand ceremonies of Dai nationality. It was listed as a national 4A scenic spot in the year of 2009.
Legend of Manting Park
In medieval times, it was where feudal leaders went to relax and enjoy themselves. Manting Park is also called ‘Chunhuan Park’ which means the place where people can have their soul relax and keep all the earthly cares out of minds. This name came from a legend: One day, the King of the Dai ethnic group came to visit this park with his princess. The princess then was so completely enthralled by the beauty of the sceneries here that she lost her soul and forgot anything else around her.
Where is Manting Park?
Manting Park, located in the southeast of Jinghong City in Yunnan Province, is about 2 kilometers (about 1.24 miles) away from the urban area of that city. It has an area of 115,400 square meters (about 28.5 acres).
How to Get to Manting Park?
Travelers can take bus No.3 to Manting Park directly, or can go to there by taxi or motorbike since it is not far from the downtown.
Main Attractions and Things to Do
● Bronze Statue of Premier Zhou Enlai （周恩来铜像）
Some historically meaningful attractions can also been seen in the park. As soon as visitors enter it, a bronze statue comes into view. It depicts Premier Zhou Enlai, dressed in Dai costumes with a water bowl in left hand and an olive branch in right hand, who once joyfully spent the Water-Splashing Festival with the Dai people in 1961. The statue commemorates that unforgettable day.
● Dodhi Trees Planted by the Princess of Thailand （菩提树）
On the left of the Zhou Enlai statue is the second historical attraction: two dodhi trees planted by the princess of Thailand symbolize the friendship between Thailand and China.
● Bamboo Shoots Pagoda（笋塔）
Besides, there is a Bamboo Shoots Pagoda moldered after Manfeilong White Stupa, a quadrangle pavilion, a hexagonal pavilion and a Dai-style pavilion. Within the Manting Park, Manting Village and Manlongkuang village are accessible for a visit.
● Free Life Lake (放生湖）
Tourists can paddle on the Free Life Lake to see wild pandas, wild pigs, snakes and birds, or just watch the Dragon-boat Racing.
● Wa Ba Jie Temple (瓦叭洁)
The major temple of Xishuangbanna -Wa ba Jie Temple(瓦叭洁), white stupa and octagonal pavilion can be seen in the Buddhist Culture Zone, where you can offer incense to Buddha, free captive animals and take a look at the Palm-leaf Scripture. The Black Forest offers you green grass, colorful blossoms and odd trees.
● Dai Culture (傣族文化）
Now, Manting Park is a place where visitors not only enjoy the scenes but also the traditional culture of the Dai. Buildings, such as the pavilions, possess the distinguished architectural features of the Dai. In its back, there is a temple called Jiebajie in Dai language. It is the most important place for Buddhists in Xishuangbanna to worship Buddhas. Some other various kinds of entertainments are available too, for example, the peacock park where peacocks strut and the elephant park where elephants do acrobatics. As a former royal park, its natural beauty is fascinating with the hard work of the gardeners. The green trees provide visitors cool shade to have a rest. Next to the park is a traditional village of the Dai where visitors could enjoy Dai Cuisine and get to know their tradition and custom.
● Bonfire party（篝火晚会）
Evenings there are even more enjoyable. Every night, there is a bonfire party from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. During these three hours, visitors will have the chance to watch dances of the Dai, listen to people in traditional Dai costumes playing the Hu Lu Si (a kind of traditional musical instrument). In addition, several traditional activities are held every night.
Manting Park is not about architecture and plantation, which are parts of why we love it, and it’s most common to enjoy yourself in the wonderful evening party held inside the park. The Dancing Singing Fire Evening Party of the Lancang-Mekong River showcases songs and dances of eight countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, which include China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and performances given by minority nationalities of Dai, Jinuo, Blang, Lagu, Yao and Hani. The show integrates ethnic folklores, exotic performances and interactive activities, presenting audiences a multicultural Xishuangbanna.
After the performance is finished, people will go through the Black Forest to make wish by putting the water lanterns onto the Free Life Lake. Campfire and dance just go together: every Campfire Evening Party in Manting Park has proved it. Boys and girls of different ethnic nationalities dance around the campfire. Everyone could take part in. Here the hospitality and boldness of ethnic minority is revealed fully. A fantastic evening just slips away unwittingly.
Recommended Tour
4 Days XishuangBanna Wild Elephant Golf and Sightseeing Tour
Nearby Attractions
Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park
Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park, also called Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park, is 8 kilometers east of the Jinghong City and north of the Lancang River. Situated in a river valley of 720 to 1,355 meters above sea level, the forest park has an area of 1,700 hectares of which 98％ is covered by trees, and is thus the largest comprehensive ecological place of interest in the prefecture. The park gives prominence to the features of primeval forest, wild animals and ethnic culture and custom. It is highlighted by three major themes: primeval forest, wild animals and ethnic folklore. And you can also enjoy and play a part in the local ethnic activities such as the Dai Water Splashing Festival, Aini capture marriage custom and the grand ethnic performances.
Jinghong Wild Elephant Valley
Jinghong Wild Elephant Valley Forest Park (Chinese name: 野象谷公园) is a special theme park for Wild Asian Elephant sightseeing and observing and rainforest sightseeing. Wild Elephants Valley covers an area of 369 hectares by the Sancha River in Mengyang Town, and is situated 47 kilometers north of the city of Jinghong. With hills rolling gently at an altitude ranging between 747 and 1055 metres, the valley is covered by tropical rain forests, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, and teeming with such endangered species as Asian wild elephants, wild oxen, green peacocks and monkeys.
Best Time to Visit
Belonging to tropical rainforest climate, Xishuangbanna’s dry season is from November to April the next year and rainy season is from May to October. With annual average temperature of 21c, it has long summer and no winter. With cool and pleasant four seasons, the best time for traveling Xishuangbanna is from October to April the next year.
● The Water-Splashing Festival, the most important festival for the Dai People to celebrate New Year, is usually celebrated in the middle of April.
● Try to avoid Chinese public holidays, such as Labor Day (May 1st to 3rd) and National Day (October 1st to 7th). It is recommended that you start your day early so as to avoid crowds.
Useful Travel Tips
●It is better to prepare some mosquito products and sun block in case of insects and sunlight.
●Respect the local customs of Dai and other minorities.
●Do not touch the head of local monks.
●It is better to take T-shirt, short and slippers becauce it is too hot in Xishuangbanna.
The Manting Imperial Garden is really beautiful. No wonder it was the Royal Garden of the Dai King. It has a strong Southeast Asian style and the photos can’t capture the beauty that‘s seen through the eyes.
The Dai people call it “Chunhuan Garden”, which means “The garden of the soul.” It was the imperial garden of the Dai king. It is said that when the Dai princess came to visit the garden, the beautiful scenery made her soul linger in the garden and it stayed there even after she left.
The scenic spot embodies three major themes: the Dai royal family culture, Buddhist culture and Dai folk culture. Its main entrance is located on the south side and it has six scenic areas: Ethnic Culture Square, The Vines Area, The Royal Orchid Garden, Release Lake, The Buddhist Cultural Area and The Tree Planting Memorial Area.
Tickets: 40 RMB/person
Address: No. 35 Manting Road, Jinghong City
Transportation: No. 3 bus goes straight there. However, since the scenic spot is in a small alley, many people suggest walking or taking a taxi there. It’s very close since it’s in the downtown area.
Scenic features : You can see elephants during the day. Then, later at night there are cultural performances and a bonfire party.
Tips: Tickets for The Manting Imperial Garden and the evening bonfire party are sold separately.
They sell tickets to the garden during the day and bonfire party tickets at night. You would need to buy a daytime ticket to enter the park before 18:00.
Bonfire show time: Admission begins at 18:55 and the show ends at 21:40;Event schedule: Admission, welcoming guests, buffet dinner, indoor stage performance, outdoor bonfire interaction;
Ticket prices: 280 RMB/person, VIP 380 RMB/person; Super VIP 480 RMB/person;
If you have enough time, you can go to The Manting Imperial Garden for a walk. The recommended stroll time is two hours. The scenic spot is basically a garden with scenery that you can enjoy during the day. It is recommended that you allocate enough time for the entire garden if you decide to come.