Getting Around Jinghong
Jinghong is the seat of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in the far south of Yunnan province, and it serves as the main public transportation hub for the whole prefecture, connecting travellers to nearby cities, towns and villages. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: the interesting parts of town are compact and walkable, buses cover the sights and the airport, taxis are cheap, and rented electric vehicles are a popular local option.
Rail
Jinghong is served by Xishuangbanna Railway Station, which sits close to the airport. Trains from Kunming run frequently throughout the day, and the journey takes roughly three to four hours. There is also a daily cross-border train from Laos that stops at the station in the late afternoon.
Several local bus routes stop outside the railway station, along with a dedicated Railway Station Express Bus, so arriving by train and continuing into town by public transport is straightforward.
Buses and Public Transport
The city has the largest public transportation centre in Xishuangbanna, and local buses are the workhorse for getting around. Fares are low and paid either by card or with coins, so it is worth keeping some change on hand.
- Airport bus: reaches the city from the airport easily, and the airport special line also passes through the night market and temple attractions.
- Ordinary city buses: several routes pass through many of the main tourist attractions.
- Tourist lines: attractions are served by corresponding tourist bus lines, most of which are priced as round trips.
For longer journeys beyond the city, Jinghong's transport centre is the place to catch connections to surrounding towns and villages.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are an easy fallback, with a low starting fare that includes a small fuel surcharge. Given how compact the central area is, most taxi hops within town should be short and inexpensive.
Rented Electric Cars and Motorbikes
Electric cars are one of the main ways local residents get around, and there are many places in Xishuangbanna where you can rent one, including shared battery cars parked on the side of the road. Rentals are also available in the Gaozhuang area. No motorbike licence is required for these rentals, but you will need to leave a deposit and provide identification.
Walking and the River
The few interesting parts of town are definitely walkable, so much of a short visit can be done on foot. Down by the Nancang, it may be possible to hire a boat for a bit of river cruising.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport is the second largest airport in Yunnan and lies just a short distance from the downtown area, in Gasa Town. It has two terminals: one for international flights including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and one for domestic China. Flights run regularly to Kunming, Shanghai, Chengdu and other major Chinese cities, plus a weekly international service to Luang Prabang.
Because the airport is so close to the centre, the transfer is quick. The airport bus reaches the city easily, and the airport special line also passes through the night market and temple attractions. The railway station is also close to the airport, so you can connect to trains from Kunming and Laos without a long detour. One practical note: airport restaurants cost several times more than food in Jinghong, so it pays to eat in town instead.
Arriving Overland
Jinghong is the first big city for travellers coming from Laos, though most will need to change buses in Mengla to get here; a direct bus from the border town of Mohan takes a few hours. From Kunming there are frequent sleeper buses throughout the day, and the trip is long and can involve bumpy roads. Coming from Yuanyang is trickier, typically requiring a backtrack to Jianshui for a sleeper bus, or an overnight stop in Luchun for the single morning departure to Jinghong. That second route crosses rough, often unpaved mountain roads where landslides are common and small streams run across the road, so it is not recommended during the rainy season.