XishuangbannaisthesouthernmostprefectureofYunnanProvince.Theprefectureisnicknamed"AerialGarden"foritsluxuriantandmulti-layeredprimitivewoodsandtropicalrainforests,whichareteemingwithanimalsandplants.Renownedasahugenaturalzoo,Xishuangbanna'srainforestandmonsoonjunglesprovideahabitatfornearly1000speciesofanimals.Withinthickandboundlessforestswildelephantsandwildoxenrambleabout,withpeacocksintheirpride,gibbonsatplay,andhornbillswhispering.
Thirteenspeciesofwildlifeenjoystateprotection,includingloris,thegibbons,thered-neckedcranes,thebrown-neckhorn-bills,andthegreenpeacocks,whichtotheDaipeopleareasymbolofpeace,happinessandgoodfortuneandwhosegracefulposturescanputprofessionaldancerstoshame.Theregionhas5,000kindsofplantsoraboutone-sixthofthetotalinChina.Thishasearnedittherenownandsobriquet"ThemoonstoneontheCrownoftheKingdomofPlants".
Amongthesearesuchfascinatingonesasthe"color-changingflower"whosecolorschangethreetimesdailyandthe"dancingherb"whoseleavesrotategently.Thenthereis"mysteriousfruit"whichreversetastes,turningsourtosweet.
Speciesoftreesthatgobackamillionyearsarestillpropagatingthemselves.The"KingofTeaTrees,"whichauthoritiessayisatleast800yearsold,continuestosprout,addingextraordinarysplendortothehomelandofthefamousPu'ertea.InXishuangbanna,thereisasaying:"Evenasingletreecanmakeaforestandanoldstalkcanblossomandbeatfruit."