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Xishuangbanna
 Located
in the deep east of Yunnan Province,
Xishuangbanna is famous for its mysterious
tropical rainforests and minority
customs. Close to the Burmese and
Lao borders, this is an area of China
that few travelers afford themselves
the time to see. A trip down here,
while time consuming and at times,
difficult, is well worth the effort
however and it is not hard to see
why this area in the local language,
is known as "an ideal and mysterious
paradise".
Xishuangbanna is the only
tropical rainforest nature reserve
zone in China. The climate is warm
and wet here, ideal for nurturing
some wonderful plants and flora and
home to unusual wildlife. Old trees
reach into the skies here, vines twist
and gnarl together and in the evening,
a thick fog spreads across the region,
bringing with it an air of mystery
and intrigue.
Since the Qing Dynasty,
western adventurers have journeyed
here seeking rich biological treasures
and for a while, the region's fame
as a natural paradise was as well
known as that of the Amazon. In the
long term however, the disadvantages
of this reputation have become clear.
Many rare species of plant and animal
have been plundered, destroyed or
made extinct, as adventurers seek
to take away a little piece of Xishuangbanna.
What remains exciting
and fascinating however, are the people
here. Daizu people have lived on this
strangely habitable land for generations.
The distinctive natural environment
here renders unusual customs and traditions.
All over the region, even today, Dai
houses can be seen.
 These
bamboo structures raised on stilts
keep away floods and dangerous animals,
allowing many people to inhabit one
house safely, and often house all
their animals too! Hunting is still
the main income, in conjunction with
farming. In terms of culture, the
Dai people dress in spectacular colors
and furs, and dance and song are popular
ways to pass the time.
Due largely to the region's
proximity to Burma and Thailand, Buddhism
is the predominant religion here.
Temples and pagodas with a Southeast
Asian flavor are dotted about the
countryside and towns, and monks,
especially young male trainee boys,
are a common sight, clothed in traditional
orange costume, often riding motorbikes
to the temple!
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