Mengbang Reservoir in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna
Chinese Name:勐海勐邦水库
English Name: Mengbang Reservoir in Menghai County, XishuangBanna
This guide introduces the main attractions of Mengbang Reservoir in Menghai County, including entrance ticket booking, the best time to visit, how to get there, highlights, facts, history, photos, weather, accommodation, visiting routes, travel tips, and tour maps.
Chinese Name: 勐海勐邦水库
English Name: Mengbang Reservoir in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna
The Mengbang Reservoir is located in the Mengbang Basin, southeast of Mengzhe Plain, about 23 kilometers from Menghai County. Often referred to as “Swan Lake,” the reservoir has a dam height of 25.43 meters and a total storage capacity of 23 million cubic meters. It was constructed as a mid-sized water conservation project in the late 1950s, designed to irrigate an area of 45,000 mu (around 3,000 hectares).
Geographical Environment
Driving west from Menghai County for about 20 minutes, you will arrive at Mengzhe Plain, which covers an area of 230,000 mu (approximately 15,333 hectares), making it the largest in Xishuangbanna and one of Yunnan Province’s major grain-producing bases. The area experiences mild winters without severe cold and summers without extreme heat, enjoying a warm climate, abundant rainfall, and ample sunshine—ideal natural conditions. The famous Chinese song “Horse, Please Slow Down,” sung by renowned singer Ma Yutao, was inspired by this beautiful setting.
Mengbang Reservoir is situated at an elevation of 1,250 meters in a hilly basin, offering picturesque scenery where flocks of egrets often play on the water’s surface. Locally known by the Dai people as “Nong Mengfa,” the reservoir is affectionately called the “Golden Lake” due to the romantic tale of Zhaoshutun and Nang Wunuo’s meeting and falling in love here. Many poets and writers have praised this place as a “paradise on earth.”
Cultural and Historical Significance
In Mengbang, visitors can enjoy not only natural beauty but also experience the unique customs of the Dai people. Upstream from the reservoir lies Mengbang Village, a Dai village with more than 50 households, situated along the water. Here, the local Dai people, known for their water skills, are experts at rafting. They can skillfully navigate bamboo rafts with a single foot, propelling themselves with a gentle push of the paddle, moving gracefully and quickly over the water. This picturesque scene, reminiscent of walking on water, is unique to Mengbang and cannot be seen in other parts of Menghai. The harmony of the lake’s scenery and the local Dai culture creates a naturally beautiful environment that feels like a fairyland.
Mengbang Reservoir has been developed with facilities including a guesthouse, restaurants, and walking paths, as well as paddle boats for tourists.
3-Day Xishuangbanna Hiking Tour around Mengbang Reservoir
- Difficulty: Medium
- Ethnic Groups: Brown, Dai, Wa, Lahu, Akha
- Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
- Scenery: Rainforest, rice paddies, sugarcane fields, tea plantations
The area around Mengbang Reservoir is known for its beautiful natural environment. This hiking route offers the opportunity to see five different ethnic minority groups. The downside is the lack of dense forest and the need to occasionally walk on tractor paths, with the climate being relatively hot. The reservoir is mainly frequented by locals from Jinghong for fishing or camping, with few tourists visiting, resulting in the area maintaining its simple and authentic customs.
You can rent tents at Mekong Coffee or hire a local hiking guide for your trek.
