Xishuangbanna Travel Tips

Climate and Weather

There are, surprisingly, only two seasons here, the wet season from May to October and the dry season from November to next April. With all-the-year-round warmth, abundant sunlight, a large quantity of heat and plentiful rain, Xishuangbanna is characterized by the fact that there is a long summer but without winter.

The average temperature of the whole year ranges from 18℃ to 22℃. From April to the last ten-day of October, temperature always keeps above 22℃，while the temperature slightly fluctuates between 12℃ and 13℃ from December to March of next year.

The optimum time for a trip to Xishuangbanna is from October to June of next year. It is advised to avoid the two golden weeks, namely May Day (1st May to 7th May) and National Day (1st October to 7th October), when most people in China enjoy a long holiday in which they can move around for traveling
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Local Festivals and Folk Custom

Dai New Year
When the Dai New Year falls on the seven days after the Tomb Sweeping Day, people will get together to hold celebrations, including the water-splashing, dragon-boat-racing and bamboo-made-rocket-launching. The water splashing is the most wonderful and exciting part, in which people fight by splashing water at each other. The one who is splashed most will be the luckiest dog in the coming year.

Water-splashing Festival
Among about a hundred minority festivals in Yunnan province, the Dai people’s Water-splashing Festival，when all Dai people in Yunnan province celebrate the New Year, is the most solemn, influential and sweeping one. It is held on every 15 April or the third day of the New Year by Dai Calendar.

When this sacred day comes, people will burst into cheer. Such popular activities as water-splashing, sand-bag-attacking game, dragon-boat-racing, fireworks-explosion, sand sculpting and worship will light the whole city up. The water splashing is the most wonderful and exciting part, in which people fight by splashing water at each other. The one who is splashed most will be the luckiest dog in the coming year.

Door-Closing-Festival and Door-opening-Festival
The Dai people celebrate the Guan men Festival, namely the Birthday of Buddha, on July 15 or September 15 by Dai Calendar every year. Kai men Festival is celebrated on October 15 or December 15 by Dai Calendar. On these two Festivals, Dai people will go to temples to hold grand activities named “Dan Fo”, denoting food, flowers and money to Buddha and figures of Buddha.

Three months from July 15 to October 15 is a period for Guan men (“close the door”) for the reason that people are busy both with farming and Buddhist ceremonies. Amorism, marriage and travel to a distant place are not allowed during this period. Not until the Kai men Festival did people begin to love, carry on marriage and go far away.

Other Odds and Ends

Useful Numbers:
Phone Dialing Code: 0691
Postcode: 666100
Emergency Call
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Weather Forecast: 121
Tourist complaint: 2162177
Consumers' Complaint: 12315
Comprehensive Information: 12580
Airport information desk：0871-7113231
Taxi complaint: 2120872 2127150 2124704

Money
Money exchange is offered in any one of the 12 exchanges of Bank of China in Xishuangbanna. Bank of China Xishuangbanna Branch is located on Minzu Nan Road, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

Taboo
No snooping on the bedroom
No striding over the oven on the floor
Don’t feel the head of the little monks
Take off your shoes before entering the temple