Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳傣族自治州) is an autonomous prefecture in the southwestern part of Yunnan Province, China.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Capital | Jinghong City (景洪市) |
| Area | ~19,096 km² |
| Population | ~1.36 million (2026 est.) |
| Border | 966.3 km with Myanmar & Laos |
| Established | January 23, 1953
|
| Climate | Tropical monsoon, avg. temp. 18–21°C
|
Administrative Divisions
The prefecture governs 1 county-level city and 2 counties
| Name | Area (km²) | Population (est.) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jinghong City (景洪市) | 6,867 | ~730,000 | Capital; political, economic & cultural center; home to Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport |
| Menghai County (勐海县) | 5,369 | ~340,000 | Famous for Pu’er tea; borders Myanmar |
| Mengla County (勐腊县) | 6,861 | ~310,000 | Borders Laos; home to Mohan border port |
Geography & Borders
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Location: South of the Tropic of Cancer, tropical northern edge
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Neighbors: Pu’er City to the northeast and northwest; Laos to the southeast; Myanmar to the southwest
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Rivers: The Lancang River (upper Mekong) flows through the region
Ethnic Composition
Xishuangbanna is home to 13 indigenous ethnic groups
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Dai (傣族) — the titular nationality, ~25–35% of population
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Han (汉族) — ~33%
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Hani (哈尼族) — ~20%
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Lahu, Yi, Blang, Jino, Yao, and others
The name “Xishuangbanna” comes from the Dai language, meaning “Twelve Thousand Fields” (十二千块土地), referring to the twelve historical administrative divisions of the region.
Economy (2025)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| GDP | ~¥94.1 billion |
| Urban disposable income | ¥42,681 |
| Rural disposable income | ¥22,428 |
Key industries include tourism, natural rubber (China’s 2nd largest base), Pu’er tea, and border trade. The region is also renowned for its tropical rainforest biodiversity — known as the “Kingdom of Plants” and “Kingdom of Animals”