Hello! Welcome to the official website of Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Area!!!
-
-
-
-
-
Tourist Guide
Tourist Guide -
Scenic Area Updates
Scenic Area Updates
-
My Journey to Find Elephants in My Wild Valley
2025-09-24
They say China has only one Wild Elephant Valley—so if you want to see wild Asian elephants, you have to head to Xishuangbanna. And once you’re in Xishuangbanna, make sure to visit the Wild Elephant Valley. Eager to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, my companion and I set off on a direct bus journey to the valley, our hearts brimming with excitement and curiosity. Legend has it that wild Asian elephants are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. With this in mind, we arrived at the scenic area well before dawn. As soon as we stepped out of the bus, we were greeted by the rhythmic thumping of wooden drums echoing in the distance. Following the sound, we discovered young Wa men and women playing melodious tunes on bamboo instruments right outside the entrance. Their long, jet-black hair flowed gracefully as they sang songs filled with warmth and joy, offering heartfelt blessings and good fortune to visitors from afar. I’d heard long ago that the Wa people embrace black as a symbol of beauty—black hair, dark skin, even black clothing. Today, witnessing their vibrant presence firsthand, I couldn’t agree more. It’s no exaggeration to call them the "Black Pearls of the East," the "Black Peonies of Asia," or the "Black Roses of Yunnan." As the drumbeats grew louder, we embarked on our thrilling elephant-spotting adventure through the heart of the Wild Elephant Valley. At the suggestion of the ticket office staff, we first took a cable car ride, soaring high above the lush tropical rainforest below. From up there, the cable cars looked like tiny boats gently gliding across the vast expanse of the verdant jungle canopy.
About half an hour later, we arrived at the main attraction area of the scenic spot—Observation Platform. As we followed the riverbank, we noticed numerous rows of elephant footprints lining both sides of the river, some deep, some shallow, some large, others small. There were also a few freshly deposited piles of dung still warm from the night before—truly a delightful surprise! It confirmed to us that wild elephants weren’t far away. According to the staff on site, a herd of five adult elephants and one baby had visited the riverbank just the night before, around 2 a.m., to drink water—and didn’t leave until about 5 a.m. They added that wild elephants are incredibly elusive; spotting them isn’t guaranteed, no matter how much you hope. Still, we decided to follow the second-phase boardwalk, determined to explore the tropical rainforest in search of those mysterious elephant tracks. When we felt tired, we’d take a break at one of the cozy rest pavilions, watching the ever-changing clouds drift lazily across the sky while listening to the gentle rustle of the nearby river. The crisp, earthy scent of forest plants filled the air, mingling with the soothing sounds of frogs croaking, insects buzzing, and birds chirping melodiously. It was an utterly magical experience—one that left us feeling deeply connected to nature’s serene beauty.
Just as we were about to arrive at the Asian Elephant Museum, we faintly heard the sound of bamboo snapping somewhere in the nearby bamboo grove. At first glance, wow—what luck! It was actually a wild elephant. Without a second thought, we quickly grabbed our cameras and started snapping away, completely overwhelmed by excitement. Taking a closer look, we counted exactly six elephants—clearly the same family we’d spotted last night near the observation platform: five adults and one calf. Later, this was confirmed by staff members from the scenic area.
Along the way, we stopped by the Asian Elephant Museum, where a guide kindly shared fascinating insights—free of charge—about the history and current status of Asian elephants, as well as the survival challenges they face. Later, on a section of boardwalk, we unexpectedly came across the "Forest Gymnastics Prince," the white-cheeked gibbon, the slothful-looking slow loris, and even some playful, adorable macaques.
Afterward, we returned to the South Gate area to explore the Butterfly Garden, Snake-Lizard Garden, Orchid Garden, and marvel at vibrant macaws and peacocks. The Butterfly Garden was a breathtaking sight, with colorful butterflies gracefully fluttering and dancing in mid-air—immersing us completely in a world where flowers and wings seemed to blend seamlessly. Before we knew it, we’d unwittingly become “bee magnets” ourselves! Luckily, we managed to spot China’s largest butterfly—the Golden Birdwing—as well as the Chinese Leaf Butterfly, which perfectly mimics the shape of a leaf. Meanwhile, in the Snake-Lizard Garden, pythons and giant monitor lizards lounged lazily basking in the sun, creating an atmosphere of serene tranquility.
Finally, we arrived at the Elephant Education Park, where we enjoyed a wonderful educational session about these majestic creatures. Shortly after, we were treated to the heartwarming sight of elephants happily enjoying their "lunch." All in all, it was a perfect experience. Yele Valley—this trip was absolutely worth it, and you should definitely come too!
Previous page:
Related News
Service hotline:0691-2431024
Douyin
Xiaohongshu
Kuaishou
Mini program
Official Account
Contact us
Consultation phone:0691-2431040
Emergency phone number:0691-2431110
Complaint hotline:0691-2431024
Email:1809938307@qq.com
Address: Yexianggu Scenic Area, Mengyang Town, Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province
Copyright: Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley Scenic Area Co., Ltd. Website Development: www.300.cn Kunming