Manting Royal Garden is located at No. 35 Manting Road, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, about 2 kilometers away from the center of Jinghong City. The scenic area covers an area of 400 mu and is one of the oldest parks in Xishuangbanna with a history of more than 1,300 years. It was once the royal garden of the Dai kings, integrating Dai royal history, Buddhist culture, ethnic customs, and tropical garden landscapes. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area has more than 500 well-preserved ancient ironwood forests and vegetation, with unique architectural styles, including more than 30 historical sites such as pagodas, Buddhist temples, pavilions, and towers, forming a characteristic landscape of natural and cultural integration.
History and Culture
The history of Manting Royal Garden can be traced back to the period of King Payazhen of the Dai people, more than 1,300 years ago. It was once the royal garden of the Dai kings. The Dai name is "Chunhuan", which means "Garden of the Soul". It is said that when the Dai princess came here to play, she was attracted by the beautiful scenery and her soul was reluctant to leave.
The Manting Buddhist Temple in the scenic area is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Xishuangbanna, with a history of more than 1,400 years. The temple preserves a large number of Buddhist relics and murals, reflecting the development process of Dai Buddhist culture. In addition, the scenic area was also the venue for Premier Zhou Enlai to participate in the Xishuangbanna Water-Sprinkling Festival in 1961. The bronze statue of Premier Zhou Enlai sprinkling water is still preserved, becoming a symbol of Sino-Myanmar friendship.
Main Attractions
Manting Buddhist Temple
With a history of more than 1,400 years, it is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Xishuangbanna. The temple has buildings such as the Mahavira Hall, Precept Hall, and pagodas, and preserves a large number of Buddhist relics and murals. The mural content is mainly Buddhist stories and Dai folk legends, with high artistic value.
Bronze Statue of Premier Zhou Enlai Sprinkling Water
Built in 1991, it is 4.5 meters high and weighs 4.2 tons. It was built to commemorate Premier Zhou Enlai's participation in the Xishuangbanna Water-Sprinkling Festival in 1961. The bronze statue is dressed in Dai clothing, holding a silver basin, and sprinkling water with the Dai people, showing the deep friendship between the Premier and people of all ethnic groups.
Former Site of the Royal Garden
It was once a place for the Dai king and his family to play and rest. The garden has various tropical plants and flowers, with elegant architectural styles, preserving the original appearance of the Dai king's royal garden. It is an important attraction to experience the life of the Dai royal family.
Release Lake
With an area of about 10 mu, the lake is home to many carps and turtles. Visitors can release living beings here to experience the releasing culture of the Dai people. There are pavilions by the lake, and the environment is beautiful, making it a good place for taking photos.
Bonfire Party Venue
A large-scale bonfire party is held every night, which can accommodate more than 2,000 people at the same time. The party includes ethnic song and dance performances, interactive games, bonfire carnival and other links, allowing visitors to experience the enthusiasm and joy of the Dai people.
Cuisine
Dai-style Barbecue
Dai-style barbecue is one of the characteristic foods of Manting Royal Garden, mainly including grilled chicken, grilled fish, grilled ribs, etc. Using unique Dai seasonings and grilling methods, it is spicy and delicious, with rich national characteristics. There are many barbecue stalls in the scenic area, and visitors can eat while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Pineapple Rice
It is made by steaming glutinous rice, red dates, raisins and other ingredients in a fresh pineapple as a container. The rice is soft, waxy and sweet, with the fragrance of pineapple. It is a traditional sweet food of the Dai people and is deeply loved by visitors. It can be bought in the snack street of the scenic area.
Bamboo Tube Rice
Glutinous rice is put into a bamboo tube, added with meat, vegetables and other ingredients, and baked with charcoal fire. The fragrance of the bamboo tube is integrated into the rice, with a unique taste and rich nutrition. There are many selling points in the scenic area, which is convenient for visitors to buy.
Admission Ticket
The admission ticket is 40 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "西双版纳曼听御花园" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from 8:00 to 17:30, and the bonfire party is from 18:50 to 22:00. There are ethnic song and dance performances at 14:30 and 16:30 every day, and elephant performances at 15:30. Visitors can arrange to watch according to the time. Subject to the announcement of the scenic area.
Tour Route
Recommended tour route: Scenic area entrance → Bronze Statue of Premier Zhou Enlai Sprinkling Water → Manting Buddhist Temple → Former Site of the Royal Garden → Release Lake → Elephant Performance Field (watch the performance at 15:30) → Ethnic Song and Dance Performance Field (watch the performance at 14:30 or 16:30) → Snack Street to taste food → Bonfire Party Venue (participate in the party at 18:50). This route covers the main attractions and performances of the scenic area, allowing visitors to have a comprehensive understanding of the history, culture and ethnic customs of Manting Royal Garden. The whole tour takes about 4-5 hours.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No. 3 in Jinghong City, get off at Manting Park Station, and walk about 500 meters to reach the scenic area.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from the center of Jinghong City to Manting Royal Garden costs about 10 yuan, and the driving time is about 5 minutes.
- Electric vehicle: You can rent an electric vehicle in Jinghong City and go there. The rent is about 50 yuan per day. The driving time is about 10 minutes. There is an electric vehicle parking place at the entrance of the scenic area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Manting Buddhist Temple: With a history of more than 1,400 years, it preserves a large number of Buddhist relics and murals, allowing you to feel the Buddhist culture of the Dai people.
- Bronze Statue of Premier Zhou Enlai Sprinkling Water: 4.5 meters high, commemorating the Premier's participation in the Water-Sprinkling Festival and witnessing the friendship between China and Myanmar.
- Bonfire Party: It can accommodate more than 2,000 people, including song and dance performances, interactive games and bonfire carnival, allowing you to experience the enthusiasm of the Dai people.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to visit in the afternoon, first visit the attractions, then watch the elephant and ethnic song and dance performances, and participate in the bonfire party in the evening to arrange the time reasonably.
- Wear light and comfortable clothes and shoes for easy walking and participating in activities. You can also rent Dai costumes for taking photos, which costs about 30 yuan per set.
- Book bonfire party tickets in advance to avoid sold-out tickets. The party includes dinner, and you can taste a variety of Dai-style foods.
- Carry a camera and mobile phone to take photos of beautiful scenery and wonderful performances. There are many photo check-in points in the scenic area, such as the Bronze Statue of Premier Zhou and Manting Buddhist Temple.
Precautions
- Take off your shoes when entering the Buddhist temple, dress appropriately, and do not wear shorts, short skirts or off-shoulder clothes to respect Buddhist culture and customs.
- When participating in the bonfire party, follow the arrangements of the staff, do not run around, and pay attention to safety, especially for visitors with children to take good care of their children.
- You can release living beings in the Release Lake in the scenic area, but use the living beings provided by the scenic area, and do not carry them by yourself to avoid damaging the ecological environment.
- When tasting Dai-style food, pay attention to food hygiene, avoid overeating, and avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.