Back in our “nice” Jinglong Hotel, there was time for one more day trip to Menglong (about 70 kms/40+ miles south of Jinghong), only a few miles from the Myanmar border. Now 70 kms/40 miles doesn’t sound like much unless you’ve ever ridden on one of these “roads.” It takes hours to get anywhere. On one of our recent trips through India, it took close to 8 hours to drive 120 kms/80 miles. Filled with generic Dramamine, we managed to withstand all the bouncing and jostling without upchucking. Every time we got out of the car for a breather, it took minutes to adjust our “car legs” without weaving around.

It’s possible that a good road and crossing point will link Thailand, Myanmar and China. I’m not sure if it ever opened and even if it did, what the current status is. As rough as this road was, the scenery compensated with jungles, rice terraces and small villages on the way…

Banna rice paddies in Yunnan Province

corn drying in Yunnan Province, China 

cooking outside in Yunnan Province, China
The Manfeilong Pagoda, built in 1204, is the big attraction in Menglong. Legend has it that the temple was built on the spot of a footprint left by Sakyamuni. Manfeilong Pagoda is now referred to as the “White Pagoda” because it was painted over with silver paint years ago. …View image… Most of the paint has flaked off and the Pagoda is almost completely white. The main pagoda has eight smaller pagodas around it and resembles a cluster of bamboo shoots in Spring.

Manfeilong White (“Bamboo Shoot”) Pagoda, Menglong, China 

walking down the White Pagoda steps, Manglong, China
The Black Pagoda was located above Menglong town. Walked up a steep path and there was the Pagoda, not Black at all but covered with gold paint. Go figure.

part of the Black Pagoda complex in Menglong, China 

 

Menglong (or Damenglong) is supposed to have a great Sunday market with people crossing the various borders to buy and sell. Unfortunately, we weren’t here on a Sunday. There is also supposed to be great trekking in this area including a three-day hiking trail. Tropical jungle hiking is definitely not our cup of tea — snakes, leeches and other crawlies…

One last Xishuangbanna lunch…

Sheila – Note: bandages on right leg from falling into ditch, Yunnan, China
…A last, fast stop where a group of workers were gathered, heading to the rice paddies…View image…and a man carrying a 50# bag of rice that almost dwarfed him…

carrying very heavy rice bag around Menglong, China
..back in the car for the jolting ride to Jinghong. The Xishuangbanna portion of this Yunnan trip was over.

 
Click here for Rail Europe
Think Snow! Great Ski Deals. Book now on Expedia!