Dai Minority Park is in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna, in Yunnan Province. Xishuangbanna is a minority autonomous prefecture populated by 13 minority groups, a large majority of whom belong to the Dai ethnic minority.
There are many Dai Ethnic Villages that show the culture, art, and traditions of the Dai people. One of the best ways to become acquainted with the Dai people and their culture is to visit the Dai Minority Park in Ganlanba, at the lower reaches of Lancang River, 40 kilometers from Jinghong City. It is home to many Dai families.
At only 530 meters above sea level, Ganlanba is the lowest and hottest part of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. Its climate is tropical and its vegetation is lush. According to local custom, Ganlamba is the most beautiful part of Xishuangbanna, and the saying goes that "if Xishuangbanna were a beautiful green peacock, its dazzlingly colorful tail would be Ganlanba, and the most eye-catching feather in the tail would be Dai Minority Park.
Ganbala is well-loved for its charming tropical scenery and its rich ethnic culture, and it draws many visitors. There are five villages in Dai Minority Park, two main villages and three smaller villages. Each of the five villages has its own character. One is a garden village and another is a flower and fruit Village. But all of them share the fundamental Dai culture.
Each village has its classical Buddhist temples, traditional bamboo houses, coconut palms, areca trees, mango trees, pineapple trees and other kinds of tropical trees. Visiting any of the Dai villages is an ideal way to experience and immersion in Dai culture and traditions.
Visiting Dai Park is also a great way to experience Dai cuisine, which is very popular in Yunnan Province. Good Dai specialties, such as barbeque snacks, New Year cake and tropical fruits are worth sampling from the food stalls that set up at night in Ganbala.
One of the best times of year to visit the Dai Minority Park is during the annual Water Splashing Festival, which begins in mid-April and lasts at least three days.
It's the New Year celebration day of the Dai calendar, and many Dai people gather at Dai Park to celebrate, worship, go sightseeing, or enjoy performances that are part of the festival. The central activity is the water splashing ritual that takes place in the square every afternoon during the festival. Visitors are welcomed to join in the activities. Getting wet during the event is believed to be good luck.
Ganlanba, Menghan Town, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
To get to the Dai Minority Park by water, take ship at the pier of Jinghong and go down along the river to Ganlanba. It takes two to three hours.
To travel by bus, you can catch one of many buses departing from the bus station near the Shuyuan Hotel of Jinghong City. The price is about 8.5 yuan per ticket.
The best time to visit the Dai village is during the time of one of the festivals, such as the Water-Splashing Festival in mid April. During the festivals you can see traditional activities, such as singing and dancing, and gain some understanding of the Dai culture.
