勐泐大佛寺 — Local services in Jinghong City

A Buddhist temple to the south of Xishuangbanna which attracts many, mainly Chinese, tourists. Expensive at around 120 RMB per adult, the site consists of several temples situated alongside a very long staircase which climbs a hill. At the top stands a large gold statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha overlooking the city.

Stalls dotted around the site sell ice creams, snacks and drinks, though they charge the earth with a can of Coke costing 10 RMB, around four times the price one would normally pay in China.

Outside the site is an array of stalls selling trinkets and tourist memorabilia, and it is worth haggling...

There's a water fountain where the kids (or adults) can play in the water and splash each other. There's a dance show at 4 pm and later the audience can join. At the end, the audience participating are given buckets to splash water towards the sky and splash each other. It seems really fun. Unfortunately, I was wearing the wrong clothes and was worried about my phone so I didn't join. Bring the right stuff and...

At first, I thought the entrance ticket was too expensive—RMB 120 per person, not including the shuttle (RMB 50/person) and escalator (RMB 40/person). However, after visiting a few spots like the peacock farm and seeing the Big Buddha, I felt the ticket was worth the price.

Another scenic spot in Xishuangbanna with strong...