One Village, Two Countries

Ruili Tour | The Declining Jade Capital, not recommended for a special trip before the Spring Festival departure from Dali. On the way from Dali, self-driving through Mangshi to Ruili Tengchong, this small town on the China-Myanmar border was once a bustling jade capital. It is not recommended to travel to tourist spots just to check in and pay for the experience. My rating for Ruili is higher than Mangshi, perhaps because I had no expectations, or perhaps because it was an eye-opening experience. See for yourself and then decide whether to go to Ruili. Picture to Picture One Village Two Countries 39 The place I was most looking forward to in the whole journey, a natural village divided into two countries by the national border. Thinking that since there are still villagers living inside, it must be full of cultural collisions. As I entered and went my way, what did I see? A national park under construction? The only high ground that overlooks the other side requires a second fee... A water well and a swing are check-in spots... Through the green iron fence, you can see the dilapidated village in Myanmar, with Burmese people working by the roadside greeting me in Chinese. The busiest place in the whole scenic area is the red brick building, where those who take photos can get good shots, but this is not what I wanted to see here. For those who like red brick buildings, please go directly to Maitreya Dongfeng Charm. Picture to 0: The Great National Gate + Duty-Free Shop A five-minute tour, for friends with nostalgia, you might want to take a look. The duty-free shop is not recommended, feels iia. A five-minute tour, for friends with nostalgia, you might want to take a look. The duty-free shop is not recommended, feels jia. Pictures 12 to 15: Delong Jade Capital The most surprising part of the journey was the night market in Delong Jade Capital, so this is what raw stone trading is like. In a large shed of thousands of square meters, completely dark without lights. Sellers use lamps for viewing raw stones to search in the darkness (here I must praise the night mode of the iPhone, which is completely invisible on site). As the saying goes, it is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books, and today I have gained new insights. I was wondering why the locals asked us to go at night, and when I first arrived, I saw rows of jade stalls and felt nothing, until I walked into the darkness at the back, then I suddenly realized. If you want to buy jade, go directly to Duobao City, there are quite a few choices. End of pictures: Ruili Live Crabs The live crabs that I queued for half an hour and didn't get to eat in Mangshi, Ruili here is the main store. Two people ate for $350 without drinks, and I am very satisfied with the freshness and tenderness of the crabs, recommended. In summary, Ruili's tourism resources are not enough to justify a special trip, the whole city exudes a sense of depression, not recommended for a special trip.

Before setting off, I had anxiously awaited the warmth of the sun amidst the biting cold winds. Upon arrival, I was instantly enveloped by sunlight. The subtropical climate is very dry, the damp and chilly air evaporated, and the cold melted away. The moment I looked up at the sun, the sunlight was splendid, and so was I. Yet, the intense ultraviolet rays showed no mercy, heating up the body relentlessly. This is 'Mengmao'—Ruili. On one side is China, on the other Myanmar. A single village spans two nations, one can step into two countries, a bridge connects two realms, and the national boundary line splits it in half, sometimes making a foreign land feel not so foreign. The newly installed wire fences, the security checks at the checkpoints along the way, have strengthened the border management. Being adjacent to Northern Myanmar is not so frightening after all. Once you're here, leave a memory behind in this auspicious and beautiful frontier town.

My itinerary: Depart from Mang City (leave early due to bad roads) - Moli Tropical Rainforest - Single Tree Becomes Forest - General Buddha Temple (under major renovation) - Jiedonglao Banyan Tree King - One Village Two Countries - Ruili Port - Ruili Live Crabs - Stay in Ruili 🌸 Moli Tropical Rainforest 4🌟 (Recommended) More interesting than the tropical rainforest of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, with various ancient trees reaching to the sky, very cool. Waterfalls over 60 meters high and golden Thai-style pavilions in the forest. 🌸 Single Tree Becomes Forest 2🌟 (Not recommended) The scenic area is very small, with a thousand-year-old banyan tree but not as tall as the Banyan Tree King in Jiedonglao. 🌸 General Buddha Temple Drones are restricted, and you can't go to the golden pagoda in the back, don't go recently! 🙅 🌸 Jiedonglao Banyan Tree King 4🌟 (Recommended) A 500-year-old banyan tree, more like a single tree becomes a forest than the actual Single Tree Becomes Forest. The largest rattan-woven Buddha in China. 🌸 One Village Two Countries 4🌟 (Recommended) After 4 p.m., there are fewer tourists and the lighting is also good. The most photogenic is the red brick pagoda, with a coffee shop on one side, also great for taking photos. Myanmar and China are really separated by just an iron fence, after 5 p.m. many children play near the fence, they will ask for money directly in Chinese, and curse if you don't give. 🌸 Ruili Port 5🌟 (Must go!) Searching for 'Sister Tells Port' won't find the national gate, you have to search for Ruili Port. Be sure to go in the evening, the national gate glows under the setting sun and looks very beautiful. Facing the national gate, on the left hand side there is a 'Ends of the Earth' large stone monument and the sign for the end of National Highway 320. Returning to Ruili city from the national gate requires going through a customs channel, which is slightly congested; even if you take the no-declaration channel, you have to roll down the car window for a trunk inspection. 🌸 Ruili Live Crabs The meat is fresh and firm, and the spicy flavor is very delicious. Business starts at 16:00 in the afternoon.

⛰️Attractions and activities: Enter the village You can see the boundary marker between China and Myanmar You can see the well symbolizing the friendship between the two countries You can see the Burmese-style pagoda forest The Burmese-style pagoda forest is a type of pagoda forest in Burmese style, usually composed of multiple small pagodas, each with a round spire at the top, and the pagoda body is also carved with exquisite Buddha statues and patterns. These pagoda forests are usually built around temples or cemeteries for memorial or worship purposes. The architectural style of the Burmese-style pagoda forest is unique, the shape and height of each small pagoda are different, and the carvings on each pagoda body are also distinctive. These pagoda forests not only have artistic value, but also historical and cultural value. In Myanmar, building a pagoda forest is a traditional cultural custom, representing respect and commemoration of the Buddha. 🚗Transportation and accommodation: Ruili is one of the earliest, best-founded, and highest-level open areas on the southwest border, so there is a wealth of hotels from budget to star-rated hot spring resorts🏨There is no public transportation on the road, and ride-hailing is relatively fast and convenient.

Traveling in Mangshi, today I drove to the border town of Ruili, where you can feel the atmosphere of Myanmar 🇲🇲 without leaving the country. Accidentally, even my phone's time zone switched to Myanmar's. From Mangshi🚗Ruili, it takes about 1.5 hours, all on the highway, and the road conditions are very 👌🏻 How to spend a day in Ruili❓ 📍Jiele Golden Pagoda: A 🆓 open attraction, you need to take off your shoes to enter, there are very few people, only a handful of locals, and the golden pagoda under the sun is really beautiful ☀️ (Almost no tourists) 📍Jiegao Port: No tickets required, there's a commercial street and a small market within the port area, and right across is 🇲🇲 (Some tourists, but not crowded) 📍One Village Two Countries: 🎫39, you can see many attractions with features of both countries, and a jade stone border is quite unique. There are costume rentals for photography 📷 in the scenic area, but the part across the border is not open yet. (Some tourists, but not crowded) 📍Jiedong King Banyan Tree: A 500-year-old super big banyan tree🌳, very spectacular. (Almost no tourists) 📍Total Buddha Temple: A very photogenic temple, where you can watch the sunset 🌇 from the mountaintop. (Almost no tourists) If time permits, you can also go to 📍Moli Waterfall and hike to see the tropical rainforest. For dining 🍴, you can go to the Myanmar Thai Special Tea Restaurant, which has a very Southeast Asian atmosphere. It's busy at noon but the turnover is quick. The buttered pancakes with fresh milk are super sweet and delicious 👍🏻, and the iced milk tea is rich and I really like it without sugar. There are many people in Mangshi for the long holiday, so if you have time, go to Ruili to experience the slow life with an exotic touch ❤️

【A village in two countries】 A Yunnan village at the China No. 71 boundary marker actually belongs to two countries, and cross-border marriages are common. The world is so big that there are no wonders. There is a village at the China-Myanmar border No. 71 boundary marker, which is known as "a village in two countries". Such geographical wonders are very common along the entire Ruili border line of more than 140 kilometers, and many villages are "you are in me, and I am in you". Now the village at the China No. 71 boundary marker has become a famous scenic spot, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year. The name of the scenic spot is called "a village in two countries". Before 1960, this village was called Yinjing Village. That year, when China and Myanmar surveyed the border, the location of the China No. 71 boundary marker was determined in the middle of Yinjing Village, and the boundary marker divided the village into two. Now the one in China is still called Yinjing Village, and the one on the Myanmar side is called Mangxiu Village. Because Yinjing Village and Mangxiu Village used to belong to the same Dai village, at that time, the border line between China and Myanmar was only marked by ditches, earth ridges, bamboo fences, and village roads, but there were no strict barriers between the borders. The situation of villagers crossing the border for harvesting and farming is also very common.

Travel plan is as follows: Day 1: - Morning: Depart from Baoshan and drive to Tengchong City, with an estimated journey of about 2 hours. Enjoy the natural scenery along the way. - Noon: After arriving in Tengchong, taste the local special delicacies. - Afternoon: Visit Tengchong Hot Sea, enjoy hot spring bathing, and admire the spectacular view of the Hot Sea. - Evening: Return to Tengchong city, taste the local night market food, rest. Day 2: - Morning: Visit the Heshun Ancient Town in Tengchong City, feel the cultural charm of the ancient town, and appreciate the historical heritage of the ancient town. - Noon: Taste Tengchong's special delicacies. - Afternoon: Drive to Ruili City, with an estimated journey of about 1.5 hours. - Evening: After arriving in Ruili, check into the hotel and rest. Day 3: - Morning: Visit the Mori Waterfall in Ruili City and enjoy the spectacular waterfall scenery. - Noon: Taste Ruili's special delicacies. - Afternoon: Visit the One Village Two Countries Scenic Area in Ruili City and understand the unique customs of the China-Myanmar border. - Evening: Return to Baoshan, with an estimated journey of about 2 hours, ending the pleasant journey. The above travel plan avoids crowded places as much as possible, focusing on natural scenery and cultural charm. The amount of exercise is moderate, suitable for the elderly and children to participate together. Wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday travel!