Page 18 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (117)

17 CITY LIFE | 城事

Setting sail to a cross‑border travel

启航体验跨国游

By Shu Wen □ 舒文 / 文

At dawn, a gentle river breeze brushes Jinghong Port. Garden to the unique cultural charm of the Dai villages, 240-hour transit visa exemption and the 144-hour visa-free
The Lancang–Mekong River flows like a jade-green ribbon Yunnan’s many-splendored life is not just a slogan. You feel entry for ASEAN tourist groups arriving in Xishuangbanna,
through the canyon, serene yet powerful. it everywhere,” she marveled. more international visitors are now entering China via this
th
On the occasion of the 13 Culture and Arts Festival of Jaruwan soon struck up a conversation with another cou- river corridor.
Countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin, the Lan- ple, also from Sichuan. “I love planning detailed itineraries; According to official statistics, from January to August
cang–Mekong International Tourism Cruise was officially my wife lives for the surprises along the way,” Mr. Zhao 2025, Xishuangbanna welcomed 433,900 international
launched from Jinghong Port in Xishuangbanna, China. The said with a laugh. “She insists on trying authentic tom yum tourists, a remarkable year-on-year increase of 223.4%. To
journey begins in Jinghong and sails to Chiang Saen Port in soup in Thailand; I’m already dreaming of Lao coffee!” better serve visitors from ASEAN countries, local author-
Thailand. From there, travelers can continue overland to ex- They shared a smile, already savoring the rich, interconnect- ities have continued to enhance tourism offerings by: lev-
plore the rich cultural landscapes of Xishuangbanna (China), ed journey ahead. eraging rainforest and ethnic cultural resources to develop
Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Luang Prabang As the cruise glided down the river, scenery unfolded 18 themed routes under five categories, including “Cultural
(Laos), creating a seamless multi-destination experience like a living scroll. As a Thai native, Jaruwan deeply under- Resonance” and “Rainforest Exploration”; launching
along the Mekong. stands the river’s significance to riparian communities. “The regular Water-Splashing Festival events at Dai Park;
Before departure, Jaruwan Udomsab joined the inaugural Lancang–Mekong isn’t just a waterway; it’s a cultural life- creating immersive photo-friendly experiences such as
group of travelers aboard the cruise, setting out to experi- line,” she told fellow passengers, sharing stories of Chiang the Gaozhuang Xishuangjing cultural tourism zone. In
ence this innovative multimodal itinerary, a seamless blend Mai and Luang Prabang. Everyone listened with eager curi- response to the needs of inbound tourists, multilingual
of water, land, air, and rail travel. osity about the adventures ahead. travel guides have been issued, achieving full coverage
“We’re from Sichuan. This is a full-family expedition!” Long Jianyu, head of Xishuangbanna Golden Peacock of foreign card payments at key cultural and tourism
exclaimed Ms. Du excitedly on the speedboat, chatting with International Travel Service under the Golden Peacock sites. Professional foreign-language tour guides have been
Jaruwan while holding her child. They had already spent Tourism Group, explained that the company has operated trained, and smart guide facilities have been added, enabling
several days in Xishuangbanna. “From the stunning specta- Lancang–Mekong international tourism cruises since 2006, visitors to enjoy seamless travel, easy mobility, and uninter-
cle of rare plants at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical though service was suspended twice. This newly relaunched rupted connectivity.
route, featuring integrated water-land-air-rail transport, is a
pioneering flagship product.
Thanks to China’s visa facilitation policies, including the