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| Xishuangbanna |
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The Southern Area The southern area of Yunnan is located to the south of the Tropic of Cancer, and enjoys a mild climate and plentiful sunshine. The Hengduan Mountains Valley takes on the shape of a fan and gradually opens out. This river basin enjoys a tropical climate, with scattered tropical forests and vegetation. It is a place of lush vegetation. |
| .Xishuangbanna. Xishuangbanna is an oasis in the sand belt along the Tropic of Cancer, and has the largest area of tropical forest in mainland China. The prefecture is the second largest natural rubber producer in China. Rich folk customs and unique border scenes make this "green gem" ever bright. In Xishuangbanna live the Dai, Jipo, Bulang and Hani ethnic minorities, each with their own rich cultures. As mentioned |  |
| before, the
Dai people since ancient have practised Hinayana Buddhism times, so the Buddhist
scriptures on pattra are precious cultural treasures for the study of their culture.
The 84,000 volumes, preserved in Buddhist temples, cover their literature, history,
astronomy, calendars, medicine, law and knowledge of nature. This is a fertile
land dotted with lush green trees, wide rivers, bamboo groves and quiet villages.
Jinghong is the capital of Xishuangbanna Dai and Jingpo Ethnic Minorities Autonomous
Prefectrue, meaning "the city of dawn" in Dai language. It was originally established
by the Dai manorial lord, Piaozhen in 1180, and was quite prosperous at one time.
Today, it has developed into a tourist city. The land of the Dais is like a painting: Buddhist stupas, bamboo and wooden buildings nestle in the trees. Each house has a garden at the front and back, and is surrounded by a rattan fence or cactus. Planted in the gardens are coconut trees, betel palms, teak, mango trees and tamarind. Folk art includes wall paintings in Buddhist temples, Dai silk, local pottery, bamboo products and paper cuttings. | 
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 | .the
Water Splashing of Dai people. Each year in the middle of the fourth month of the lunar calendar is the Water-Splashing Festival of the Dai people, the liveliest festival in Xishuangbanna. During the festival, everyone brings clean water to splash on one another as a blessing, and they hold dragon-boat races on the Lancang River. Girls throw embroidered balls at the boys they love, and young men give them presents is return. The lovers then disappear into the forests beside the river bank. At night, lanterns are lit, and people sing and dance around the fire. | |
| The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion.
The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion, located in the Xiaotuan Mountain area of Menghai County, is an unusual Buddhist structure. The pavilion has 31 faces with 32 angles. It is the crystallization of the Dai ethnic group's architectural art, and a symbol of cultural exchange between the Dai and Han people. The octagonal shaped pavilion was built in 1701,when the hall was used for discussing Buddhist affairs in the Jingzhen region. | 
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 | Manfeilong
Buddhist Pagoda. Xishuangbanna has many Buddhist pagodas. The best known one is a pagoda called the Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda,which was built in 1204, also known as the "White Pagoda" because of its color. Ancient Buddhist scriptures on pattra record the design, construction and ceremonial activities of the pagoda. The Manlei Muzi Pagodas (mother and son pagodas)are the largest one in the Mengzhe region. The mother pagoda is 20 meters high and the son,15 meters high. This is a very beautiful place to visit. | |
| .Water Wells in Dai Villages. Water wells are also common in Dai villages. Over each well is a pagoda-shaped cover, usually with sculptures of a lucky white elephant, a peacock and a huge dragon. Small mirrors are embedded in the cover, representing the number of the families in the village. |  |
 | Culture
of Multi-Ethic Minotities. Many ethnic minorities live in Xishuangbanna. The Aini people, a branch of the Hani ethnic group, love black and believe in a primitive religion. When guests come, they give them such foods as chicken porridge, crab balls, dried bird meat floss, locust sauce, etc. They make delicate woven bamboo handicrafts and sing folk ballads. The Bulang ethnic minority engages in mountain agriculture and tea planting. They share many similarities with the Dai people in religious beliefs and folk customs. For example, they dye their teeth as a symbol that they have achieved adulthood, and keep the tradition that the son should be named after the mother. The Jinpo ethnic group is one of the minorities with a long standing history. They live on the Jinpo Mountain, one of the six mountains that produce Pu'er tea and engage in mountain "Temaoke", the Earth God Worshipping Festival in the sixth month, and Harvest Thanksgiving Festival in the ninth month, of the Chinese lunar calendar. |
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