Wild Elephant Valley is located in Mengyang Town, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, 22 kilometers away from Jinghong City. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, covering an area of 5.17 square kilometers with a water area of 8,000 square meters. As the only scenic area in China where wild Asian elephants can be safely observed, it also serves as a scientific research base for Asian elephant monitoring and research, wild butterfly breeding, and wildlife rescue in Xishuangbanna. It is one of the first batch of national ecological tourism demonstration zones in China, integrating ecological tourism, scientific research, education, and leisure vacation.
History and Culture
Wild Elephant Valley was originally called "Sancha River" (Three-Fork River), named after its location in the valley where Guanping River, Nanyang Sansu River from Baihua Mountain, and Mengyang River converge. In January 1997, He Zhiqiang, then Governor of Yunnan Province, proposed renaming the area, and the next month it was renamed "Banna Wild Elephant Valley," inscribed by He Zhiqiang himself. In 2000, Tian Jiyun, then Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, inscribed the name "Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Area," which remains the current name.
It was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction in 2005, one of the first national ecological tourism demonstration zones in 2013, and one of the top ten national ecological tourism scenic areas in 2018.
Main Attractions
Butterfly Pavilion
Located in the southwest of the scenic area, it is China's first artificially raised butterfly pavilion, established through cooperation between the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve Administration and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The pavilion houses more than 48 species of tropical and subtropical butterflies, breeding 120,000 butterflies annually, with some released into the scenic area.
Orchid Garden
Also known as Lanyuan, it is located northeast of the Butterfly Pavilion, mainly planting orchids, most of which are first-class protected plants in China. The garden is equipped with a science popularization exhibition hall, where visitors can learn about the characteristics of rare orchid families 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 with 206 sightseeing baskets, taking about 35 minutes to reach the Elephant Viewing Platform. Visitors can overlook the entire rainforest and observe wild elephants, various primates, and tropical wild birds.
Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway
Starting from the northeast of the Orchid Garden, the walkway is 2,280 meters long and 3 meters wide, built in two phases. Made of American Southern Pine anti-corrosion wood with 6-8 mm gaps between planks, it minimizes impact on forest trees, leaving suitable living space for Asian elephants and other wildlife. Visitors can closely observe the composition of tropical rainforest plants.
Asian Elephant Museum
Located at the end of the Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway, it opened in March 2008 with an exhibition area of 900 square meters. Divided into nine sections, it displays the origin, evolution, and physiological structure of Asian elephants. The museum houses precious collections such as two Asian elephant skeletons, with staff providing daily scientific explanations.
Asian Elephant Germplasm Breeding and Rescue Center
Located south of the Asian Elephant Museum, it was constructed in 2007 and completed in 2008. As one of the key projects of China's wildlife protection and nature reserve construction in Yunnan Province, it integrates rescue, scientific research, and breeding.
Tree Hotels
More than 30 tree hotels have been built in areas where wild elephants frequently appear, about 20 meters above the ground. Shaped like Dai stilt bamboo houses, they are connected by elephant viewing corridors, allowing visitors to observe Asian elephant activities up close and enabling reserve staff to monitor and study elephant habitat behavior.
Cuisine
Elephant Meal
A featured dish of Wild Elephant Valley, made from fruits and vegetables favored by elephants, offering a variety of dishes.
Elephant Ice Cream
The scenic area offers four types of elephant-shaped ice creams: Mother and Baby Elephant, Rainforest Elephant, Playing Elephant, and 3D Elephant, with six flavors available.
Admission Ticket
The admission ticket price is 58 yuan per person.
For the latest updates or online booking, search for the official WeChat public account "西双版纳野象谷".
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open from 8:00 to 18:00, with ticket sales and entry closing at 16:30. The latest time for cable car rides: single trip at the lower station is 16:00, round trip at 15:30; upper station at 16:00. Subject to the scenic area's announcement.
Tour Routes
Here are several tour routes for reference:
Route 1: Snake and Lizard Garden, Butterfly Pavilion, Orchid Garden → Rainforest Elephant Herding/Intimate Interaction/Elephant Physical Examination → Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway → Phase II Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Asian Elephant Museum → Phase I Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Tour ends (about 3 hours).
Route 2: Snake and Lizard Garden, Butterfly Pavilion, Orchid Garden → Rainforest Elephant Herding/Intimate Interaction/Elephant Physical Examination → Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway → Phase II Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Asian Elephant Museum → Phase I Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Elephant Meal → Tour ends (about 4 hours).
Route 3: Snake and Lizard Garden, Butterfly Pavilion, Orchid Garden → Phase II Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Rainforest Elephant Meal → Rainforest Overnight Stay → Rainforest Yoga → Breakfast → Phase II Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway → Asian Elephant Museum → Tour ends (approximately 15:00 to 10:00 the next day).
Transportation
- Take a tourist shuttle bus from Jinghong City to Wild Elephant Valley; check departure times and schedules with local bus stations.
- Charter a car or take a taxi for convenience and speed.
- For self-driving, use navigation software to reach the scenic area, which has a parking lot.
Must-visit Attractions
- Tropical Rainforest Sightseeing Cableway: 2,063 meters long, offering a panoramic view of the rainforest and wild animals.
- Elevated Elephant Viewing Walkway: 2,280 meters long, allowing close observation of tropical rainforest plants and Asian elephants.
- Asian Elephant Museum: 900-square-meter exhibition hall displaying Asian elephant knowledge and precious collections.
Tour Tips
- Check the scenic area's opening hours and performance schedules in advance to plan your trip and avoid missing highlights.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes for easy walking in the scenic area.
- Book activities like rainforest elephant herding in advance to avoid full capacity.
- Pay attention to weather changes and prepare sun protection or rain gear.
Precautions
- Abide by scenic area regulations and do not feed wild elephants or other wildlife arbitrarily.
- Do not frolic on walkways or cableways; pay attention to safety.
- Keep personal belongings secure, especially in crowded areas.
- Respect local customs and culture.