Mangshi, Yunnan Travel Guide: Must-Visit Attractions and Best Time to Travel

Mangshi is actually not a city, but a town located on the border of Yunnan. What kind of attractions does this small town on the border of Yunnan have? What is the best time to travel to Mangshi? What kind of beauty is still hidden in this beautiful town? Let’s take a look.

Mangshi Travel Attractions Recommendations

Meng Huan Golden Pagoda

The Meng Huan Golden Pagoda in Mangshi, Dehong Prefecture is built on the top of Leiya Rang Mountain. Legend has it that Sakyamuni was reincarnated and practiced here, and gradually this place became a place of practice, and the Leiya Rang Mountain Pagoda and the Lu Xi Meng Huan Golden Pagoda were built one after another, but the original Leiya Rang Pagoda was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War, and the Meng Huan Golden Pagoda was also destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The Meng Huan Golden Pagoda we visit now is the one rebuilt in 2004.

The Meng Huan Golden Pagoda is a building in the style of a South Asian Dai Royal Palace, and is known as the No. 1 Pagoda of Theravada Buddhism in China today, and the No. 1 hollow Buddhist Pagoda in Asia. It is magnificent and grand, and it is a gathering of architects and artists from both home and abroad. It is a masterpiece, with exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious details. The murals and Buddha statues are also very elaborate and exquisite. It is truly a testament to the dedication and devotion with which it was built. It is incomparable to most tourist attractions.

The Buddhist culture of Dehong has a long history. As early as the Ming Dynasty, the Dai people in Mangshi, Dehong, believed in Theravada Buddhism, which preaches self-cultivation, believes in the cycle of karma, and reflects the attitude of equality of all beings. Due to the influence of Buddhist culture, Buddhist pagodas have been built in Mangshi and surrounding villages inhabited by Dai people. Don’t look at it, the local residents’ homes are poor and simple, but the Buddhist temples are magnificent, dazzling, and shining with golden light. Every household has contributed to the construction of local Buddhist temples, regardless of cost. People with faith have a very low demand for material things, but their inner strength is exceptionally strong.

Therefore, when you come to Mangshi, besides seeing the pagodas that embody spiritual beliefs, you can also experience the life style of the local people with faith, and look back on your own busy life of chasing money, and you may gain a lot from it.

Address: Southeast of Mangshi City, Mangshi, Yunnan Province

Fee: Entrance fee to the Golden Pagoda is 50 yuan, and the discount price is 40 yuan during the off-season in November. External visits are free.

Transportation: Self-driving: Drive east along Xianchi Road, and you will arrive in 5-6 minutes at high speed. If you don’t want to drive, it takes about 10 minutes to walk along the small road, go up towards the east campus of Dehong Education College, and then enter the forest path from next to the Martyrs Memorial Tower and climb a 300-meter slope. You can also take a taxi.

Tree-Encased Pagoda

In nature, we have all heard of vines entwining trees, trees entwining vines, but have you ever seen a tree enveloping a pagoda? The thick roots of a large tree tightly wrap around the house. There are a large number of Dai people in Mangshi, and they believe in Theravada Buddhism. They prefer pagodas in their architecture. But why does a tree grow from the roof of a house? How did this happen? Records say that the brick and stone pagoda body cracked over time, and dust brought by the wind gradually filled the brick and stone. A banyan tree seed was brought by the wind or birds to the crack in the stone. Spring rain fell, and the seed took root and sprouted in the stone. As the banyan tree grew slowly, the pagoda remained the same, solid and firm, able to withstand the thick roots and branches of the banyan tree. So the ancient pagoda was gradually enveloped by the banyan tree, forming a spectacular sight of a tree-enclosed pagoda.

Address: Baopo Road, Mangshi, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Fee: Entrance fee is 5 yuan.

Transportation: Take a taxi.

Moli Waterfall

Moli Waterfall, also known as Zado Waterfall, is located on the Zado River, a tributary of the Ruili River, at the junction of Lu Xi, Longchuan, and Ruili. Zado means Buddha’s Footprint. The waterfall plunges down from a 40-meter-high cliff into the pool below, where the water splashes and mist rises, filling the valley bottom. The surrounding forests are dense, and the environment is serene. The clear spring water gushes down from the 40-meter-high cliff face, creating a scene of “water cascading like cotton, no need for bow and arrow, flowers scatter on their own,” like a giant white silk dancing in the wind. The snow flies and clouds surge among the peaks and cliffs, and the sound of thunder echoes. There are hot springs gushing out at the bottom of the waterfall, which is a unique sight. The stream descends from heaven, and the air is exceptionally fresh and humid. In the environment of water falling deep into the pool, the content of negative ions is the richest, and negative ions play a very important role in strengthening the body’s immune system and cardiovascular system.

Address: In the Moli Canyon, 15 kilometers northeast of Ruili

Fee: Entrance fee is 30 yuan.

Transportation: It is 26 kilometers from the center of Ruili City, and it is recommended to take a chartered car or join a day tour group.

Time Reference: Tour time is about 2 hours.

Mengbana Xi Wonders Garden

Mengbana Xi Wonders Garden is located in the southeast of Lu Xi City, Dehong Prefecture. It is a national 4A-level scenic spot. It has been built into a high-quality scenic spot with a quaint, natural, and wonderful charm. It is a rare ecological garden in China. Mengbana Xi Wonders Garden gathers rare ancient and famous trees from all over the country and rare petrified wood jade in the world. Its characteristics are: rare, peculiar, ancient, and strange, and it can be called a collection of tourism highlights and a treasure trove of subtropical plant genes.

Address: No. 6, Renmin Road, Mangshi Town, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Fee: Entrance fee is 30 yuan.

Transportation: Tourists can first go to Dehong Prefecture, take the tourist bus to Lu Xi City from the West Station of Dehong Prefecture, and walk to the scenic spot after arriving in Lu Xi City.

Opening Hours: 08:30——18:30

Best Time to Travel:

Mangshi has a mild climate and a subtropical climate in South Asia. The average annual temperature is 18.3~20℃, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 10.9~12.5℃, the average temperature of the hottest month (June) is 22.8~24.3℃, and the annual temperature difference is 11.8~12.8℃, so there is “no severe cold in winter and no extreme heat in summer.” It is suitable for tourism all year round.

Clothing:

It is warm in winter and hot in summer, with abundant rainfall. Clothing should be light and breathable cotton clothing. There is a lot of rain, so it is best to wear sandals or shoes that allow water to drain, and bring an umbrella.

Consumption:

Mangshi has a low level of consumption, and there are many exotic local products from Myanmar that are inexpensive and good value for money.