Xishuangbanna's attractions divide between the city sights of Jinghong — temples, markets, the riverfront — and the rural prefecture beyond, where the real reasons to come are: the tropical botanical garden at Menglun, the wild elephant reserve at Sancha He, the Dai villages around Ganlanba, and the dense rainforest down towards the Laotian border. Plan at least four days if you want to see more than just Jinghong.