Damenglong is a small town two hours south of Jinghong, on the road towards the Myanmar border. Its draw is the Manfeilong Tasong, the "White Pagoda" — a cluster of nine slender white stupas built in 1204, rising from a single tiered base like a closed lotus flower. The site is genuinely old (a rarity in this part of China), and the design is unique in the prefecture.
A few kilometres outside the town is the Manfeilong Black Pagoda, a darker counterpart from a similar period. The drive south takes you through Hani and Bulang minority country — quite distinct from the Dai villages around Ganlanba — and is worth combining with an overnight stay if you have the time.