Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda

I have traveled to 12 cities this year, I have seen a lot of buildings along the way, I saw European retro buildings in Dalian, I saw Qianhu Miao Village in Guizhou, I saw the characteristic small town of the Bai nationality in Dali, And the Dai-style huts in Mangshi, The most stunning for me are the golden and silver towers in Mangshi, Recommendation reason: This niche border town has Southeast Asian-style buildings, The golden and silver towers are the most representative, and you can experience Dai-style flavor without going abroad, There are not many tourists here, the experience is very good, highly recommended. 🌈Mangshi 2-day tour route: Tuanjie Road Pedestrian Street—Shubao Tower—Xinwan Factory Night Market Menghuan Silver Tower—Menghuan Big Golden Tower—Dai Ancient Town 🔹Menghuan Big Golden Tower: You can look up in many places in Mangshi This golden tower, navigate directly to the Big Golden Tower, parking at the door is 5 yuan/time, ticket 40r, you can take pictures at the door. 🔹Silver Tower: The silver white tower, 100 meters away from the Golden Tower, is a good place to watch the sunset and the night view of Mangshi. The top of the tower is hung with wind chimes, swaying in the wind, crisp and pleasant. In addition to these, we feel that we can go to the Dongfeng Wholesale Market and the Hongli Comprehensive Market. These two places are not far apart, and the fruits and vegetables in the market are very good, and there are some Southeast Asian trinkets

🏯It's not abroad, nor is it Xishuangbanna, this is the Menghuan Golden Pagoda in Dehong Mangshi, full of exotic charm! As a landmark building of Dehong Mangshi, it is a must-visit spot that cannot be missed! 😉The towering and spectacular golden pagoda shows its brilliance. Under the sunshine, it is even more dazzling. I am very fortunate to have watched the wonderful and lively Dai peacock dance under this golden pagoda, which is said to be a dance handed down from ancient times. ☀️The golden pagoda is an octagonal four-door design, hollow inside, it is a hollow Buddhist pagoda, a holy place for the local people to worship and pray. When I went a few days ago, two of the four doors were opened, and you can enter the pagoda to worship after taking off your shoes. 👏At its highest point, it is topped with a 2.3-ton golden dome, which is the first golden Buddhist pagoda in China and the first hollow Buddhist pagoda in Asia. 📷Recommended photo spots: 1⃣At the entrance of the scenic area (when there are many people, there may be multiple backgrounds) 2⃣At the four entrances of the pagoda (it is recommended to find a door that is not open) 3⃣Use other slightly lower pagodas in the scenic area as the background to take atmosphere photos. 💴Ticket: 40 at the scenic spot/38 online 🚗Transportation: Taxi or self-driving

Mangshi Travel Guide ✨Menghuan Golden Pagoda and Silver Pagoda As the iconic buildings of Mangshi, the Menghuan Golden Pagoda and Silver Pagoda are one of the must-visit attractions. The exterior of the Golden Pagoda is very spectacular, you can take a taxi to get there, while the Silver Pagoda requires a ticket, you can take a sightseeing car or walk to get there. 📸Recommended photo spots: The bookstore under the Golden Pagoda is an excellent photo spot, where you can see the sunset outside, the scenery is very beautiful. ✨Mangshi Dai Ancient Town The night view of the ancient town is very beautiful, but there are basically no people during the day, and there are many stalls and snacks at night. ✨Unity Street A bustling block with Southeast Asian style, it's very photogenic on the street side. ✨Tree-wrapped Pagoda A pagoda surrounded by big trees, but there are quite a lot of cars parked around, you need to find a good angle for taking pictures. ✨New Play Factory A trendy block with graffiti walls, but it's not popular, and there's not much to eat. Other recommended attractions: Dongfeng Wholesale Market and Hongli Comprehensive Market 🈹About the price: Since the guide does not mention the ticket prices and other expenses of each attraction, it is impossible to give a specific price summary. It is recommended to inquire about the ticket prices and other expenses of each attraction before traveling, so as to make a budget. 🚗Transportation: Check the flight and hotel information in advance, and choose the appropriate transportation to get there. 📸Photography tips: When taking pictures, you can pay attention to finding different angles and positions to get better shooting effects. For example, in the bookstore under the Golden Pagoda, you can use the floor-to-ceiling windows to shoot the sunset outside, and you can get very beautiful scenic photos. Environmental protection: Also pay attention to protecting the environment when visiting attractions, do not litter, etc. In summary, Mangshi is a city full of exotic charm and beautiful scenery, and I hope this guide can help you plan your trip better!

Mangshi in Dehong is a small city in Yunnan province, in the far Southwest of China. It's populated by Dai minority and other minorities. There are many Buddhist temples and Pagoda with a Thai flair, as the cultures are similar. Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda is one of the biggest temples in the area. We visited the temple with our motorbike and stayed about 2 hours visiting and exploring. You can go with a guide or explore alone. 🎟️ Entrance ticket was 35RMB per person. There is free parking for cars and scooters. #bucketlistreboot #yunnan #chinatravel #mangshi #dehong #buddhisttemple #gooutside

Coming to Mang City, of course, you have to visit the iconic 'Menghuan Big Golden Pagoda'! - Many people are discussing whether to buy a ticket to go inside, after all, the golden and silver pagodas are adjacent, but you have to buy separate tickets for each. It really depends on personal preference. Outside the pagoda: Taking photos is also very beautiful and photogenic. Inside the pagoda: It's not very big and you can finish walking around quickly, but if you look closely, there are many interesting places, and you can even listen to the explanations of other people's guides, haha. - If you want to finish visiting 'Golden Pagoda + Silver Pagoda + Taking Portrait Photos' in one day, and time is limited, you can choose to take photos of the exterior of the golden pagoda, and then buy a ticket for the silver pagoda, which is bigger and better for taking portrait photos! Trust me‼️ - 📷Photo spots: 📍Big Golden Pagoda exterior: At the end of the road outside the pagoda shops, you can capture the complete Big Golden Pagoda, even if there are many people, they won't block the view 📍Monk statues: Next to the golden dragon at the outside of the pagoda, there are monk statues lined up with a devout look 📍Golden Rooster A Luan: Facing the urban area of Mang City, calling for the light in the early morning, it is said to be the incarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, and the noon sunlight shines right on the head of the golden rooster 📍Golden Dragon: The golden dragons that wind down the steps on both sides of the golden pagoda 📍Fortune Elephant: Guarding next to the south gate inside the golden pagoda 📍Hercules: The true · eight-pack abs · god, at the entrance of the pagoda, forgot which direction it was, haha 📍Reclining Buddha: Pray for an offer to the Reclining Buddha, just follow half a circle around the pagoda to see it 🙏Walk clockwise around the pagoda three times, and leave with a sense of fulfillment - 🏠Dai ethnic portrait: There are many travel photography and Dai ethnic costume rental shops along the street, you can ask around and compare. It is recommended to rent clothes yourself, so after taking photos of the golden pagoda, you can go to take photos of the silver pagoda - 🥑Freshly squeezed juice: The fruit freshly squeezed at the food street at the entrance of the scenic area is not bad, 15 yuan per cup of pure juice🍹, worth a try - ☕️Coffee: There is a water bar at the viewing platform in the scenic area, it's quite novel to have coffee in a temple, and the coffee packaging is printed with Mang City, suitable for checking in and taking photos - 📝Tips: 1⃣️Dress modestly, skirt length should cover the knees 2⃣️Do not be noisy and playful, you need to take off your shoes and hat when entering the pagoda 4⃣️Pay attention to sun protection! Pay attention to sun protection! Pay attention to sun protection! (Important things said three times) - 📍Location: Menghuan Big Golden Pagoda 🎫Ticket: 40 yuan ⏰Opening hours: 8 am - 10 pm ⏳Duration of visit: 1 hour (Taking Dai ethnic portraits will take an afternoon) 🚗Transportation: Take a taxi during the off-season, it's still tiring to walk up to the top of the mountain. During the peak season, take a taxi to the foot of the mountain and walk up, because it will be so congested that you can't move at all, and you still have to walk up.

May 21, 2023, the 68th day of the self-drive tour around China, from Zhenkang in Yunnan to Mangshi in Yunnan. Sometimes on national roads, sometimes on county roads, climbing over one mountain after another, the roads winding and twisting. On one side, sheer cliffs, on the other, the waters of the Nu River. Driving through, it's as if sketching out a naturally formed picture. A special mention: in Pingba Street, I was stopped by traffic police for no reason, to check for mixed passenger and cargo transport. This was the only time during the self-drive tour around China that I was checked for this, which was quite absurd. The Menghuan Golden Pagoda stands tall on the top of Leiya Rang Mountain in Mangshi, shining brilliantly. The Golden Pagoda, with its unique architectural style, displays the charm of a South Asian Dai royal palace. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters, the environment is elegant, with a broad view. The pagoda is 73 meters tall and 50 meters wide at the base, an octagonal hollow Buddhist pagoda. The first-floor hall covers an area of about 2000 square meters, with four Buddha statues sculpted on the central pillar facing east, west, south, and north. Inside the pagoda, the hall is spacious and bright, the Buddha statues solemn and compassionate, each spot reflecting the profound depth of Buddhist culture. Here, people meditate on the Dharma, letting go of the worldly noise. It is said that walking three circles around the Golden Pagoda and then entering the pagoda (please remove shoes) will lead to the fulfillment of merit. Looking up at its majestic stature, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Mangshi, the Golden Pagoda is a place where one lingers and forgets to return. The Menghuan Silver Pagoda, also known as the Mangshi Great Silver Pagoda, is located close to the Menghuan Golden Pagoda. It was built in recent years, with the entire pagoda based on a pure white theme. At the entrance of the scenic area, the 'Buddha Handprint' sculpture is exquisitely beautiful. The Golden Pagoda is a hollow Buddhist pagoda, while the Great Silver Pagoda is a solid one. The Silver Pagoda has four levels, each composed of a smaller pagoda. When a gentle breeze blows, the bells on the Silver Pagoda ring out with a pleasant sound. Under the sunlight, the Silver Pagoda glitters, resembling a silver palace. The platform below the pagoda is fitted with glass, creating a feeling of being in the sky. This place is a paradise for photography enthusiasts, unfortunately, drone photography is not allowed. The brick pagoda body has developed cracks over time and has gradually accumulated dust. With the spring rain, a banyan tree seed took root and sprouted in the crevice of the pagoda. Thus, the ancient pagoda gradually became enveloped by the banyan tree, forming a spectacle of a tree wrapping around the pagoda. With lush foliage above and the shining pagoda below, it's a truly unique sight. Now, the tree on top of the pagoda has grown to over 30 meters high, with a canopy covering nearly 1000 square meters. The Dai ancient town is not a real ancient town, but that doesn't affect the enjoyment and photography. The flowing water in the ancient town embraces the beauty of the mountains and rivers, with different scenes in each season. Strolling through, one feels the strong Dai ethnic style, with fewer tourists during the day. The town is full of Dai delicacies, where people revel in the accessible joys of life. At night, the ancient town is brightly lit, colorful. The dazzling interplay of light and shadow dresses the town like a fairyland. The yearning in your heart, when you step into the ancient town, you find the answer. The village divided between two countries is located next to the famous No. 71 boundary marker on the China-Myanmar border in Ruili. The border line splits a Dai village in two, with the Chinese side called Yinjing and the Myanmar side called Mangxiu. The scenic area includes attractions such as the well and swing of the village divided between two countries. Unfortunately, due to special reasons, the other side of the village in Myanmar is not yet open. The jade stone border line is paved with jade stones, with yellow representing China and white representing Myanmar. The Friendship Bridge spans two countries, with the bridge surface inlaid with Burmese jade. Due to the belief in Theravada Buddhism, the scenic area includes a 'miniature Shwedagon Pagoda' and Theravada Buddhist landscapes. The online reviews for the village divided between two countries are average, mainly because the commercial atmosphere is too strong. In my opinion, it's worth a visit, but don't shop. For the city of Mangshi, what touches people the most is that it still accommodates the ancient Dai culture while also embracing the most fashionable and trendy features. Half of it is the hustle and bustle of life, and the other half is the story of the years.

If you ask me which place in China is full of exotic charm, besides Xishuangbanna, it's here, the border town filled with Southeast Asian flair, 'Mangshi', known in Thai as 'Menghuan'. Legend has it that when Buddha Sakyamuni came to Dehong to spread his teachings, he arrived at Mangshi at dawn, hence he named this place 'Menghuan', meaning 'City of Dawn'.

Mangshi has really heated up, with tourists from all over the place. You can see vehicles with license plates from other regions everywhere, especially a large number from Sichuan with plates starting with 'Chuan A' and 'Chuan G'. For someone like me who has lived in Chengdu for many years, hearing Sichuanese everywhere, whether at tourist spots or while dining, feels incredibly familiar. On my way back to Ruili, I took the opportunity to visit Mangshi's Menghuan Pagoda and the Silver Pagoda, and I really felt that Mangshi's tourism has taken off. Is Mangshi busy? It really has gotten busy; even dining in this small city requires waiting in line. Is Mangshi busy? Mangshi is not that busy; it's a leisurely small town, dining is inexpensive, and the tourist spots are all within close proximity. The warm subtropical climate means there's no need for heavy clothing. Everyone is welcome to visit Dehong Prefecture, to come to Mangshi, to come to Ruili, to experience the subtropical climate, local customs, and a variety of delicious foods.

✅【About the itinerary】🗓️ Day1: Menghun Silver Pagoda—Menghun Golden Pagoda—Yunnan Mengbana Rare Garden—Dai Ancient Town Day2: Dehong Museum—Bodhi Street ✅【About transportation】🚦 The attractions are mostly not far from each other, you can choose to walk🚶‍♀️or take a taxi🚖or ride a small electric scooter🏍depending on personal preference ✅【About must-visit attractions】‼️ 📍Menghun Silver Pagoda｜🎫35 RMB/person Super suitable for watching the sunset, great for photography, there's also the Sky Mirror, Moon Bay check-in spots, if you want to avoid the crowds you can go in the morning! 📍Menghun Golden Pagoda｜🎫38 RMB/person Full of exotic charm, with a religious significance, interested ones can buy a ticket to enter, but no photography inside! 📍Yunnan Mengbana Rare Garden｜🎫38 RMB/person A national 4A level scenic spot, it has a lot of rare ancient trees and various precious plants and treasures! 📍Dehong Museum｜🎫Free Rooted in Dehong, facing all directions; collecting Dehong, building dreams of culture and museums; you can learn about ethnic minority cultures! 📍Bodhi Street｜🎫Free The road is lined with palm trees, full of tropical charm! You can capture the vacation vibe of a seaside town!!

During the Spring Festival, there are many people in Mangshi, but if you are well prepared, whether it is a holiday or not, book the hotel in advance, Mangshi is definitely worth coming. ✅A few recommended points: 1️⃣The overall price is relatively cheap We booked RuJia in Mangshi in January, it was 128 per night at that time, the same room type has risen to more than 600 during these Spring Festival holidays, but apart from the hotel price increase in Mangshi, the food and fun are not expensive. Basically, the main meal is about 5 dishes (at least two meats), plus drinks, the most expensive meal is only 166. 2️⃣The food is delicious These days in Mangshi, we just randomly find a small shop on the roadside wherever we go, and the taste of the ordinary small shop we randomly find is not bad, we didn't deliberately go to the popular online shops, the popular online shops are said to have no dishes. The price is much cheaper than the neighboring Tengchong. The main dishes are various Dai-flavored foods. The several shops we have eaten have not stepped on the pit: food ①Lanlu breakfast, eat breakfast, mainly Ersi, their various spices are self-service, very delicious, 15 per person. Recommend to go to the third branch, and check in at the pagoda forest (Figure 8) ②Aihua hand-grabbed rice, there are several branches, the taste is good, but the price increase during the Spring Festival is outrageous, usually 58, the Spring Festival price increase to 88. ③Wang's Dai-flavored restaurant, next to Bingmen Agricultural Market, the price is affordable, and the Dai-flavored dishes are well made. Two meats and two vegetables plus rice are only 150. ④Fuhua Myanmar Sapie, you must try Sapie when you come to Mangshi, this one randomly encountered feels pretty good, two meats and two vegetables a serving of Sapie plus drinks 166. In short, I found that as long as there are branches, the taste will not step on the pit, there is no need to squeeze the popular online shops. 3️⃣The scenery is beautiful The golden tower and the silver tower are very beautiful. If you choose one of the two, I recommend going to the silver tower. The viewing platform on the uphill of the silver tower is an excellent position to take pictures of the golden tower. The sunset is very beautiful. In addition, the streets of Mangshi are very suitable for citywalk. ‼️A few slots 1, It is difficult to take a taxi during the holidays, try to choose an electric bicycle to travel. It is more convenient to rent an electric car at the foot of the mountain to go to the Golden Tower, 60 yuan each. 2, The hotel price increase during the Spring Festival is outrageous, and some snack shops also have a great price increase. But many restaurants are normal prices.

The Menghuan Great Golden Pagoda is located on the top of Leiyarang Mountain in the southeastern part of Mangshi, at an altitude of 1079.6 meters. Legend has it that 'Sakyamuni' in one of his previous lives reincarnated as a golden rooster (A Luan) and lived here. Hundreds of years after the Buddha's nirvana, a Buddhist disciple 'Zhao Han Da' (an Arhat) came to this mountain to practice and spread the teachings of the Buddha. To provide 'Zhao Han Da' with a good environment for cultivation, the wild grass and thorns gave way, hence the mountain was named Leiyarang, meaning 'the place where the wild grass yields'. Later, a Buddhist pagoda was built on this mountain, which has been recognized as one of the sacred places of Buddhism since ancient times. The Menghuan Great Golden Pagoda is the first golden Buddha pagoda in China and the first hollow Buddha pagoda in Asia.

Menghuan Big Golden Pagoda in Mangshi, Yunnan, is the first golden Buddha pagoda in China and the largest hollow Buddha pagoda in Chinese Theravada Buddhism. It is dazzling and dazzling, located in Mangshi, the capital of Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Walking into the scenic area, the rich exotic atmosphere comes to your face, the golden and solemn big golden pagoda is magnificent, shining under the sun. We invited a tour guide to explain and learn more about the mysterious stories of Theravada Buddhism. Walking up the scenic road, the guardian dragon - the five-headed dragon god, is the dragon that shielded the wind and rain for the Buddha Shakyamuni before he became a Buddha, and guarded the Dharma. The railings of the stone steps are like two unicorns, he is the divine beast Muga who guards the big golden pagoda. According to the Buddhist scriptures, Muga is the ancestor of the dragon, who was influenced by Buddhism and became one of the sacred beasts guarding the tower and the Dharma. Menghuan is a direct translation of the Dai language in Mangshi, meaning "City of Dawn". It is said that Shakyamuni lived here when he was reincarnated as a golden chicken. The Menghuan Big Golden Pagoda is 76 meters high and has a base diameter of 50 meters. It is an octagonal four-door hollow Buddha pagoda. The three floors below are all hollow halls, which can accommodate thousands of believers to worship the Buddha at the same time. After listening to the tour guide's explanation, I learned that Buddhism is divided into Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Those with pagodas are Theravada Buddhism, and those with temples are Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism have the same root and origin, both are Buddhism introduced from ancient India to China. Theravada Buddhism retains a strong original Indian Buddhist color, and more authentically reflects the Southeast Asian style; Mahayana Buddhism absorbs and integrates Chinese Taoist and Confucian thoughts and cultures, forming a sect that is closer to the Chinese people. The way of worship is also different. Theravada Buddhism advocates flower offerings to the Buddha, while Mahayana Buddhism is incense worship. The Big Golden Pagoda has four large doors in the east, west, south, and north. The tour guide took us for a walk around the outer circle of the Big Golden Pagoda. The first thing I saw was the lifelike three precepts god statue. The three precepts god statue covered his eyes, ears, and mouth, meaning to admonish all beings "do not look at what is not polite, do not listen to what is not polite, do not speak what is not polite", that is, do not look, listen, or speak bad things. The Ganges goddess is lifelike, she is the guardian of Shakyamuni's lotus throne, and also the messenger witnessing the Buddha's merit. Her hair turns into floods when she exorcises demons, and turns into sweet dew when she saves all beings. The merit messenger holds a pen and a book, and goes down to the world on the first and fifteenth day of each month to record the merits and demerits of all beings. In Theravada Buddhism, the saint is the wisest lady among the gods. She sits sideways on the wisdom bird, holding the three scriptures of the heavenly book in her hand, representing the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom. The human-faced lion statue represents the six reincarnations of Buddhism, admonishing people to do more good deeds in normal times. The human-faced golden bird dance god is handsome and chic, it is the lower bird and upper person evolved after the golden bird heard the Dharma, and is named for his love of dancing. There are two tigers in front of the north gate. It is said that the tiger is the guardian god of Mangshi, guarding the peace of the people in the Big Golden Pagoda. Outside the Big Golden Pagoda, there is a very precious third-generation "Sacred Bodhi Tree". It is said that there are only two such sacred bodhi trees in China. One is in the Big Golden Pagoda and the other is in Xishuangbanna. Legend has it that Shakyamuni became enlightened under the tree. Next to the sacred bodhi tree is the white marble reclining Buddha Shakyamuni, with a peaceful expression, thoughtful, showing the transcendence and calmness of Shakyamuni's nirvana. The Big Golden Pagoda has four doors in the east, west, south, and north. The east gate is the main gate of the four gates, guarded by two powerful heavenly kings. Outside the east gate, a rooster is wearing golden armor, mighty and strong. It is the incarnation of Shakyamuni's golden chicken Aluan. Legend has it that Shakyamuni once reincarnated as a rooster and practiced on the top of Leiya Rang Mountain. Entering the interior of the Big Golden Pagoda, there are four Buddha statues in the middle of the halls corresponding to the four doors in the east, west, south, and north. They are Shakyamuni Buddha in the east, Medicine Buddha in the west, Guanyin Bodhisattva in the south, and Maitreya Buddha in the north. Some good men and women worship here devoutly. The outer circle of the Big Golden Pagoda is composed of sixteen small pagodas, each building is finely carved and beautiful. Outside the Big Golden Pagoda, there are many elephant sculptures. Unexpectedly, the metaphor of the elephant is also different. The elephant with its nose raised is a welcoming elephant; the elephant with its nose curled up represents wealth and treasure, it is a wealth elephant; the elephant with its nose vertical is a peace elephant, representing auspicious peace, national peace and people's peace. Many young boys and girls in the scenic area are dressed in Dai and Thai costumes, taking pictures here. It is said that there are differences between Dai and Thai costumes, which can be simply judged by the sleeves. Generally, those with sleeves are Dai style, and those without sleeves and with shawls are Thai style. Dai style is simple and elegant, more convenient for daily wear; Thai style is gorgeous and complicated, more beautiful for taking pictures. Many times, tourism is just a quick look at the excitement, and I can't understand more about the culture of the scenic area. The Menghuan Big Golden Pagoda belongs to the architectural style of the South Asian Dai Palace, which is rare to see on weekdays, and I know nothing about Theravada Buddhism. This time I listened to the tour guide's explanation seriously, appreciated the colorful and mysterious exotic culture, opened my eyes, and gained a lot.