Manting Park

曼听公园

A city park built on the former royal garden of the Dai king, with a bronze statue of Premier Zhou Enlai commemorating the Water-Splashing Festival, Manting Buddha Tooth Temple, Fangsheng Lake, and evening Dai bonfire shows with water-lantern releases.

Manting Park is in southeastern Jinghong. Its Dai name, 'Chunhuan', means 'garden of the soul'. It was once the royal garden of the Dai king (the Cheli Xuanweishi, or pacification commissioner), has a history of more than 1,300 years, and is Jinghong's oldest park.

Highlights include a bronze statue commemorating Premier Zhou Enlai's 1961 visit to take part in the Water-Splashing Festival here; Manting Buddha Tooth Temple next to the General Buddhist Temple, a Thai-style hall with a golden roof that houses a Buddha tooth relic; Fangsheng Lake with Dai-style pavilions; a white pagoda and a peacock park; the ruins of the Dai king's palace; and a tropical orchid garden.

Daytime admission is about 40–54 yuan, and a visit takes 1.5–2 hours. The evening 'Lancang–Mekong Night' song-and-dance bonfire show (entry from about 18:30, with a Dai-style buffet dinner, ethnic song and dance, bonfire dancing and water-lantern releases; tickets about 180–300 yuan) is Xishuangbanna's most iconic night-time experience and especially suited to families. The park connects with the Xishuangbanna General Buddhist Temple, so the two can be visited together. Getting there: the park is in the city. A taxi from Gezhuang takes about 15 minutes, and several bus routes stop at the Manting Park stop.

Tips: Book the evening show in advance, as tickets sell out in peak season. Peacocks roam the park by day, so don't chase them. Remove your shoes and dress modestly to enter the Buddha Tooth Temple. The park is a key venue during the Water-Splashing Festival, so expect large crowds.

Manting Park

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Places to eat nearby