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| ¡¡¡¡Beautiful
and richly endowed Dai Autonomous prefecture of Xishuangbanna
lies in the Southwest border area of China , most |
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southern part of Yunnan province, bording on Laos at its
Southeast and on Burma at its Southwest. Covering an area
of approximate |
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20thousands square kilometers, it is composed of Jinghong,
Menghai, Mengla three counties with a population of about
790thousands, |
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one third of which is made up of Dai people, the rest
of which, of over ten minority nationalities such as Hani,
Bulang, Lahu Jino, and Yao. |
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Yunjinghong, its capital, ¡°the cityof daybreak¡± in Dai
Language, is more than 730 kilometers from Kunming, about
45¡ªminutes flight trip. |
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The ancient land of Xishuangbanna appears mysterious,
beautiful and enchanting with rolling high mountains and
steep ridges, vast and |
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boundless primeval tropical rain forest and delightful
contrast between ancient customs of minority nationalities
and colorful natural |
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subtropical scenery within its territory. |
| ¡¡¡¡Xishuangbanna
is hot and humid with plentiful sunshine and abundant
rainfall with an annual average temperature of about 21¡æ.
The |
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year can be divided into two seasons: the rainy season
from June to September and the dry season from October
to the nest May. There |
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live over 5000 species of plants and hundreds kinds of
rare birds and animals in its 15,000 square kilometers
of tropical rainforest, thus |
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Xishuangbanna is called ¡°the Kingdom of plants and Animals¡±.
The tourist spots merging natural scenery with customs
of minority |
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nationalities are enchanting including Bamboo-Shoot pagoda
in Manfeilong, Dai villages, Tropical Botanical Garden
in Menglun, |
| Olive-shaped
Flatland, Octagon pavilion in Jingzhen, peacock Lake,
Garden of Nationality Folk Customs, Dai Village for Folk
Customs |
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Activities, Gasa Street, Jino Stockaded Village, Hani
Stockaded Village, Menghun Country Fair, etc. Xishuangbanna
has been listed as |
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one of the famous national scenic spots¡ªlevel. |
| ¡¡¡¡The
Water-Splashing Festival, the New Years Day by Dai Calendar,
is the grandest festival of Dai Nationality in Xishuangbanna
and |
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celebrated every year in the last ten days of June or
the first ten days or July by Dai Calendar (the second
ten days of April by Gregorian |
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Calendar). During the festival, grand activities will
be held including dragon¡ªboat racing, sending off skyrockets,throwing
love--pouch, |
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etc. Water splashing brings the festival to a climax.
Men and women, the old and the young splash water over
one another for benediction. |
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Numerous tourists. From homeland abroad ate atracted here
to share Joys of the festival at this time of every year. |
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Welcome
to Xishuangbanna! |