Ganlanba Region is known by the terms of Olive Plain or Tail of the Peacock due to its rich and fruitful nature. The region is inhabited by the Dai minority group who have made their home in the region which is made up of five villages and is about an hour’s drive from Xishuangbanna.
The region is rich in fruit trees, palm trees and rare bird species including peacocks that can be found in abundance here. Pretty Dai girls in colourful long sarongs, wearing bamboo woven hats carry bamboo baskets selling home produce, fruits and other self made products.
The five villages have come together to create what is known as the Dai Minority Park which allows visitors to experience true Dai culture and festivals. A popular festival – that of the New Year – for the Dai Community is the Water Splashing one traditionally held in April. Inside the park, the Water Splashing Festival is re-enacted twice daily and they have no hesitation when it comes to soaking anyone who is close by; so those visiting should take a spare set of clothes so as to fully enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy in the merrymaking! This colourful and lively festival is a great crowd puller that both young and old enjoy.
Walking through the park and the surrounding areas, visitors will glimpse the unique Dai houses raised on wooden stilts with their livestock under their houses and the many Buddhist temple pagoda’s dotting the landscape.
The Dai Garden is the venue for a beautiful temple with a meditation garden that attracts a large number of visitors each day. The scenic and idyllic surroundings offer the perfect environment for meditation. The people of Ganlanba follow a simple lifestyle and their livelihood is based on the rubber, paddy and fruit cultivation that does very well in the hot yet rich soil region.
For those hoping to visit and looking for a hotel in Yunnan consider opting for accommodation which has a centralized location that allows for a better exploration of the surroundings and what it has to offer. The Anantara Xishuangbanna, China is a hotel Yunnan which is an ideal choice for such travellers.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
