The valley, aa open landscape with hills rolling gently at an altitude ranging between 747 and 1055 metres, is covered by tropical rain forests, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, and teeming with such endangered species as Asian wild elephants, wild oxen, green peacocks and monkeys. Situated at the junction of the two parts of the Mengyang Nature Reserve, Yexianggu provides a natural thoroughfare for all sorts of animals, and for this reason it is frequented by wild elephants. In fact this is the only place in Xishuangbanna to marvel at these giant animals. A five kilometre- long passageway, a 300-metre-long overhead corridor are built for elephant watchers. A hotel is built right in the trees. There are also an elephant training school, a butterfly breeding centre, and a giant aviary in Yexianggu Wildlife Valley, which makes it one of the finest scenic spots in Xishuangbanna. 

Lancang ( Mekong ) River

Lancang River (also called the Mekong River) has an 1187.5 kilometer-long stretch flowing through Xishuangbanna. At the moment, the Lancang River Tour is divided into two sections. The upper section is 135 kilometers long, from Jinghong to Simao; the lower section is 40 kilometers in length, from Jinghong to Olive Basin. The lower section attracts more tourists at present. Visitors will be enchanted by the primeval tropical rain forestand animals along the two banks of the river, especially by the incredible " Sky Garden ", where flowers bloom happily on dead branches and some trees have aerial roots, and the " One Tree Forest ". 

The Jinuo people, residing in the Jinuo Mountains on the west of the river bank 43 kilometers from Jinghong city, have in the last forty years adapted totally from a primitive to a modern way of life - a truly amazing story.

Editor: Xu Shenglan