The Lancang Jiang — the upper Mekong — runs straight through Jinghong, and is the river that gives the city its character. The riverside promenade on the east bank, around the Xishuangbanna Bridge, is the city's main evening hangout: locals come for a stroll, ice creams from the carts, and views of the temple lights reflecting on the water.
Short evening boat trips run from the dock on the eastern bank — usually with on-board dinner and Dai-themed entertainment. Longer cruises south to the Burmese border are no longer routinely available, but the brief upstream run at sunset is worth doing once for the view of the city from the water.