XISHUANGBANNA
A train ride from Laos
Quick facts
China
Yunnan
3 Nights
4 days
Train from
Laos
Chinese NY
2025
Explore
The city
Food & people
Highlight
Xishuangbanna, in the south of Yunnan Province, close to the borders of Laos and Myanmar. We spent four days exploring the colourful streets around Gaozhuang Xishuangjing, visiting temples and discovering local food. We arrived during Chinese New Year, when the streets were full of people celebrating, eating and shopping.
We arrived in Xishuangbanna by train from Laos during Chinese New Year, not really knowing what to expect from this part of China. We had around four days to explore before continuing our journey, and the place surprised us much more than we expected.
After arriving early in the morning, we took a bus across the river to our hotel. Everyone we met was incredibly nice, and we soon found ourselves wandering through colourful streets, visiting temples and discovering local food. The city felt lively, especially during Chinese New Year, when people were out celebrating, shopping and enjoying time together.
Nicklas was still recovering from a stomachache he had picked up in Laos, so for the first couple of days his meals were mostly rice and soup. I, on the other hand, was ready to try everything. One of our favourite discoveries was a dumpling restaurant that we genuinely loved, and another special moment was meeting local children who gave us little gifts during the celebrations.
We only had a few days here, but Xishuangbanna left us with lovely memories. It was a side of China we hadn’t expected, and a reminder that sometimes the stops we know the least about turn out to be the most surprising.
Our days in Xishuangbanna
Arriving from Laos
We crossed from Laos into China by train, arriving early in the morning. The border crossing was straightforward, and once we reached Xishuangbanna, we took a local bus to Kaidiya Hotel, where we stayed for three nights. The staff were very friendly and made us feel welcome from the beginning.
Walking Around the City
We spent time wandering around Gaozhuang Xishuangjing, exploring its streets, shops and temples. During Chinese New Year, the area was especially lively, with people out celebrating, eating and shopping. It was a lovely way to experience the atmosphere of the city.
The Dumplings We Loved
One of our favourite discoveries was all the dumpling restaurants in the Gaozhuang area. We genuinely loved the food, and it became one of the things we remember most about our stay. If you’re exploring this part of Xishuangbanna, we’d definitely recommend trying the local dumplings.
Check the Toilet Before Booking
In some accommodation in China, you may find a squat toilet rather than a seated one. Since we preferred a Western-style seated toilet, we learnt to check the bathroom photos carefully and confirm the toilet type with the hotel before booking. Don’t assume every room has the facilities you’re used to.
Getting around and useful apps
We relied on Alipay for payments, Trip.com for travel arrangements and Baidu Maps to find our way around. The map app is in Chinese, so it can take a little imagination to work out where you need to go. We also used local buses to get between the train station, our hotel and the areas we wanted to explore.
Places we visited
THE MAIN HIGHLIGHT
Gaozhuang Xishuangjing
This was the main area we explored during our stay. We walked around its streets, looked at the local shops and restaurants, and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, especially during Chinese New Year.
02
Ganbai Street Night Market
In the evening, we headed towards the busy streets, where people were eating, shopping and selling all kinds of things, including clothes. It was a lovely place to wander around and see the city come alive during the celebrations.
A LITTLE KINDNESS
Chinese New Year
One of the sweetest memories from our time in Xishuangbanna was meeting some local children during Chinese New Year. They gave us little presents, including a wooden elephant and flowers. It was such a small gesture, but it stayed with us and made the visit feel more personal than simply sightseeing.
A Taste of Xishuangbanna
Rice with vegetables
Rice was a regular part of our meals, especially while Nicklas was recovering and needed something simple. I was much more adventurous and enjoyed trying as many dishes as I could during our few days here.
Dumplings everywhere!
Unlike in some other parts of China, where dumplings are often served boiled, we noticed more fried dumplings here, with a delicious golden, crispy exterior. Wherever we went, they were a great choice, and we never got tired of trying them.
Soup pots & fresh ingredients
We went to places where they brought a pot of broth and some meat, and we could add all the vegetables and other ingredients we wanted. It was a fun way to eat, choosing our own combinations and letting everything cook in the soup.
Our Cost
*3 nights · 4 days · 2 people
| Category | Total (2 People) | Per Day (2 People) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🛏 Accommodation | 66 AUD | 22 AUD* | Hotel accommodation |
| 🚌 Transport | 124 AUD | 31 AUD | Train from Laos and local buses |
| 🍽 Restaurants and cafes | 71 AUD | 18 AUD | Local food |
| 🧺 Extras | 3 | – | SIM card |
| Total | 264 AUD | 65 AUD | – |
* Accommodation is calculated per night, while the other categories are calculated per day. All prices are approximate.
Gallery
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Would we recommend Xishuangbanna?
Yes, especially if you’re interested in seeing a different side of China. We arrived without many expectations and ended up enjoying the colourful streets, the local food and the relaxed atmosphere. Exploring Gaozhuang on foot was a great way to spend our time, and the dumplings alone are a memory we still talk about.
We only spent four days here, and Nicklas wasn’t feeling well for part of the visit, so we didn’t explore as much as we might have otherwise. Even so, the kindness of the people we met and the Chinese New Year celebrations made the stop special. We’d happily return with more time to discover the area beyond the streets we walked around.
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