TORONTO, April 25, 2026 – On the morning of April 25, the interview delegation of the “Colorful Yunnan · Recommended by Overseas Media” Global Alliance of Chinese-Language Media China Tour visited Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. The group toured Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park and the Xishuangbanna Tropical Flowers Garden of the Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, gaining a closer look at local tropical rainforest ecological protection, ethnic cultural heritage, integrated cultural tourism development, and tropical plant research resources.
Using on-site reporting by overseas Chinese-language media as a bridge, the event showcased to overseas audiences Xishuangbanna’s achievements in ecological civilization, ethnic cultural presentation, and distinctive tourism development through field visits, briefings, and direct observation. Members of the media delegation said that Xishuangbanna’s unique tropical rainforest scenery, rich ethnic culture, and diversified cultural tourism offerings provide vivid material for overseas Chinese-language media to tell stories about local development in China.
In the morning, representatives of overseas Chinese-language media first visited Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park. The park is located along Kunluo Highway 214, about 8 kilometres from downtown Jinghong, within the Caiyang River protected area, crossing the Nanban River to the south and bounded by the Caiyang River to the north. Construction of the park began in 1995, and since officially opening to the public on May 29, 1999, it has attracted many visitors and researchers from China and abroad with its distinctive tropical rainforest landscape and strong ethnic cultural atmosphere.
According to the scenic area, Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park covers 27,025.55 mu, with an actual developed touring area of about 810 mu. About 97 percent of the area is still not open to visitors, making it one of the best-preserved stretches of primitive forest south of the Tropic of Cancer. Relying on a high-quality tropical rainforest ecosystem and traditional ethnic cultural resources, the park continues to develop tourism products and site infrastructure based on ecological protection, with a focus on cultural tourism experiences, educational programs, and forest wellness.
The media delegation learned during the visit that peacock culture is a major theme of the park. Around this theme, the park has developed a range of visitor experiences, including a live Peacock Release performance, the Aini Ethnic Village, a rainforest valley experience zone, jungle adventure activities, elevated boardwalks, via ferrata rainforest hiking, Peacock Manor Resort, and the Tropical Rainforest Culture and Science Experience Hall (Mekong Underwater World), which showcases rainforest ecology, green living, and the world of peacocks in the valley rainforest.
Beyond ecotourism, the park has also combined ethnic culture, intangible cultural heritage, and cultural product development. Built around the peacock theme, it has launched specialty cultural and creative products such as ice cream, candy, fridge magnets, and intangible cultural heritage souvenirs, linking natural scenery, ethnic culture, and visitor consumption experiences. A park representative said the site hopes that through more interactive and immersive products, visitors can better appreciate the ecological value of the rainforest while also understanding the distinctive charm of local ethnic culture.
The delegation then visited the Xishuangbanna Tropical Flowers Garden of the Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops. As an important window for showcasing tropical plant resources and scientific research achievements, the garden presents Xishuangbanna’s rich plant biodiversity and also reflects Yunnan’s long-term work in tropical crop research, plant resource conservation, and public science education.
For overseas Chinese-language media, Xishuangbanna is not only an important window through which China presents its tropical ecological resources to the world, but also an important example for observing cultural tourism integration, ecological protection, and local economic development in China’s frontier ethnic regions. Members of the delegation said that through on-site visits, they can more directly introduce Yunnan’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and development vitality to overseas readers, viewers, and online audiences.
The “Colorful Yunnan · Recommended by Overseas Media” Global Alliance of Chinese-Language Media China Tour’s visit to Xishuangbanna is one of the important stops for overseas Chinese-language media to go deeper into local China, document grassroots development, and share Chinese culture. As the reporting activities continue, overseas Chinese-language media will use text, photos, video, and multi-platform communication to bring stories of Yunnan’s ecological protection, ethnic culture, and cultural tourism development to a broader international audience. (LJI by Jennifer)
