Mengyang Wild Butterfly Breeding Base in Jinghong City, XishuangBanna
Overview
The Mengyang Wild Butterfly Breeding Base (勐养野生蝴蝶饲养场) is located approximately 30 kilometers from Jinghong City (景洪市) along the Kunluo Highway (昆洛公路) toward Kunming (昆明). This area was originally known for observing wild elephants.
Establishment
- Established: 1989
- Supporting Organization: World Wildlife Fund (世界野生生物基金会)
- Nature: Government-led
In 1989, the World Wildlife Fund collaborated with the Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) Protected Area Management Bureau to establish the first wild butterfly breeding base on the Chinese mainland. This base is a beautifully designed butterfly viewing area that cleverly combines artificial and natural environments. From mid-March to mid-October each year, visitors can enjoy a large number of butterflies.
Butterfly Viewing Experience
In the circular netting butterfly garden, visitors can see a variety of tropical and subtropical butterfly species fluttering about, resting by the water, feeding on nectar, mating, laying eggs, or emerging from their chrysalises. Guests are free to observe and photograph the butterflies in their natural behavior.
The garden has also introduced various parasitic plants, such as Aristolochia (马兜铃), from the mountains, which serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. Additionally, numerous nectar-producing flowers have been planted along the butterfly viewing paths to attract butterflies. Currently, this site is the most ideal and conveniently accessible butterfly viewing area in Xishuangbanna.
There is also a butterfly specimen exhibition room on-site. Besides displaying specimens, it sells real butterfly encapsulations with guide maps as souvenirs.
Visiting Information
Location: Mengyang Wild Butterfly Breeding Base, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province (云南省西双版纳傣族自治州景洪市勐养野生蝴蝶饲养场)
How to Get There
To reach the Mengyang Wild Butterfly Breeding Base, take a bus or taxi from Jinghong City (景洪市) along the Kunluo Highway (昆洛公路) toward Kunming (昆明). The journey takes about 30 minutes. The entrance to the butterfly base is well-marked, making it easy for visitors to find.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Plan your visit from mid-March to mid-October to see the most butterflies.
- Photography: Bring your camera to capture the beautiful butterflies and the scenic surroundings.
- Guided Tours: Consider joining a guided tour to learn more about butterfly species and their habitats.
- Souvenirs: Don’t forget to check out the butterfly specimens and souvenirs available for purchase as mementos of your visit.
- Prepare for Weather: Bring sunscreen and stay hydrated, especially during the warmer months when visiting the outdoor butterfly garden.
