Wild Elephant Valley is located in Mengyang Town, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, 22 kilometers away from Jinghong City. As a national 4A-level tourist attraction, it covers an area of 5.17 square kilometers, with a water area of 8,000 square meters. It is the only scenic spot in China where wild Asian elephants can be observed safely, and also a scientific research base for Asian elephant monitoring and research, wild butterfly breeding, and wildlife rescue and research in Xishuangbanna. As one of the first national eco-tourism demonstration areas in China, it is a comprehensive eco-tourism scenic spot integrating eco-tourism, popular science and scientific research teaching, and leisure vacation.
History and Culture
Wild Elephant Valley was originally named "Sanchajie (Three-Fork River)" because it is located in the river valley where three rivers - Guanping River, Nanyang Sansu River (south of Baihua Mountain) and Mengyang River - converge. In January 1997, He Zhiqiang, then Governor of Yunnan Province, proposed a name change. The following month, the scenic spot was renamed "Banna Wild Elephant Valley", with the name inscribed by Mr. He Zhiqiang himself. In 2000, Tian Jiyun, then Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, inscribed "Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Spot", which has been the official name of the scenic spot ever since.
In 2005, it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction; in 2013, it became one of the first national eco-tourism demonstration areas; and in 2018, it was named one of China's Top 10 Eco-Tourism Scenic Spots.
Major Attractions
Butterfly Garden
Located in the southwest of the scenic spot, it is China's first artificially bred butterfly garden, co-established by the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve Administration and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The garden houses more than 48 species of tropical and subtropical butterflies, breeds about 120,000 butterflies of various species every year, and releases some of them into the scenic spot.
Orchid Garden
Also known as the Orchid House, it is situated in the northeast of the Butterfly Garden. It mainly grows orchids, most of which are national first-class protected plants. A popular science exhibition hall is set up in the garden, where visitors can learn about the characteristics of rare orchid genera and the unique landscape of tropical rainforest plants.
Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway
Starting from the northwest of the Orchid Garden, the cableway is 2,063 meters long and has 206 sightseeing gondolas. It takes about 35 minutes to reach the Elephant Observation Platform by cableway. Visitors can overlook the entire tropical rainforest, and watch wild elephants, various species of wild primates and tropical wild birds.
Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk
Starting from the northeast of the Orchid Garden, the boardwalk is 2,280 meters long and 3 meters wide, built in two phases. It is made of pressure-treated southern pine from the United States, with a 6-8 mm gap between planks to minimize impact on the forest trees and leave adequate living space for wild animals such as Asian elephants. Visitors can observe the composition of tropical rainforest plants at close range.
Asian Elephant Museum
Located at the end of the Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk, the museum was completed and opened to the public in March 2008, with an exhibition area of 900 square meters. It is divided into nine sections, showcasing the origin, evolution and physiological structure of Asian elephants. The museum houses precious collections such as two Asian elephant skeletons, and staff members provide popular science explanations every day.
Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center
Located in the south of the Asian Elephant Museum, the center started construction in 2007 and was completed in 2008. As a key project of China's Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve Construction Project implemented in Yunnan Province, it integrates elephant rescue, scientific research and breeding.
Tree-top Hotels
More than 30 tree-top hotels have been built in areas where wild elephants frequently appear. Located over 20 meters above the ground, the hotels are designed in the style of the Dai people's stilted bamboo houses and connected by the Elephant Observation Corridor. They allow visitors to watch Asian elephants' activities at close range and are also used by reserve staff to monitor and study the habitat behavior of Asian elephants.
Recommended Tour Routes
The following are several recommended tour routes for reference:
Route 1: Snake & Lizard Garden → Butterfly Garden → Orchid Garden → Rainforest Elephant Guiding / Close Interaction / Elephant Health Check → Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway → Phase II Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → Asian Elephant Museum → Phase I Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → End of Tour (about 3 hours).
Route 2: Snake & Lizard Garden → Butterfly Garden → Orchid Garden → Rainforest Elephant Guiding / Close Interaction / Elephant Health Check → Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway → Phase II Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → Asian Elephant Museum → Phase I Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → Elephant-themed Meal → End of Tour (about 4 hours).
Route 3: Snake & Lizard Garden → Butterfly Garden → Orchid Garden → Phase II Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → Rainforest Elephant-themed Meal → Rainforest Overnight Stay → Rainforest Yoga → Breakfast → Phase II Elevated Elephant Observation Boardwalk → Asian Elephant Museum → End of Tour (from 15:00 to around 10:00 the next day).
Travel Tips
- Check the scenic spot's opening hours and performance schedules in advance to arrange your itinerary properly and avoid missing exciting activities.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes for easy walking within the scenic spot.
- Book in advance if you want to experience activities like Rainforest Elephant Guiding, as spots may be fully booked.
- Pay attention to the weather changes and take sun protection or rainproof measures accordingly.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic spot's regulations and do not feed wild elephants or other wild animals randomly.
- Do not chase or play around on the boardwalk or cableway; always pay attention to safety.
- Keep your personal belongings safe, especially in crowded areas.
- Respect the local customs, traditions and culture.
Transportation
- You can take a tourist shuttle bus from Jinghong City to Wild Elephant Valley. For departure times and schedules, please inquire at the local bus station.
- You can also choose to hire a car or take a taxi, which is convenient and fast.
- If driving by yourself, you can reach the scenic spot via navigation apps. There is a parking lot in the scenic spot.
Opening Hours
The scenic spot is open from 8:00 to 18:00. Ticket sales and entry stop at 16:30. Last cableway departure times: 16:00 for one-way trips from the lower station, 15:30 for round trips from the lower station, and 16:00 from the upper station. Please refer to the scenic spot's official announcement for the latest information.
Tickets
The ticket price is 58 yuan per person.
You can search for the scenic spot's official WeChat public account "西双版纳野象谷" to get the latest updates or book tickets online.