Diaojiaolou, totem poles, tropical rainforest, tropical fruits, Songkran Festival, Torch Festival... Being in such a world, I seem to have returned to the time when I was traveling in Xishuangbanna.

But this is not Yunnan, but the "Xishuangbanna of Beijing" - Yalu Ancient Tropical Botanical Garden.

Yalu Ancient Tropical Botanical Garden is the largest tropical botanical garden in Beijing. The scenic spot covers an area of ​​more than 300 mu. The buildings are all thatched wooden houses with stilted feet in the southwest ethnic style. More than 3,000 species of tropical and subtropical plant species are planted here. Dinosaur Pavilion, Elf Tribe There are various interactive experiences in entertainment areas such as the small zoo and the small zoo, which are very suitable for bringing children to play.

For me, the most attractive thing about the scenic spot is the sixth Water-Splashing Festival and the third Torch Festival, which is currently being held. The event lasted from July 10th to August 29th. Every weekend, festival ceremonies, ethnic performances and special delicacies full of Southwest minority customs were presented one by one.

I’ve always regretted that I didn’t experience the Songkran Festival in person, but now I don’t need to go to Yunnan, and I can experience two grand festivals at once without leaving Beijing. The summer of water and fire carnival is definitely exciting enough~


Songkran

The water-taking ceremony of the Songkran Festival begins at two o'clock in the afternoon.

After the ceremony, the Songkran Festival kicked off with dynamic music. Everyone started the carnival mode, launched a nationwide wet body battle by the fountain and pool, and splashed good wishes on each other. On a scorching summer afternoon, the splashing water flickers with fine light, cooling the happy world.


Torch Festival

At eight o'clock in the evening, the dark night sky was lit by fire, and the quiet night was broken by cheers, and the sacrificial ceremony of the Torch Festival began.

People wearing ethnic minority costumes gathered around the bonfire to celebrate the festival, and used torches to convey friendship. The strong exotic style made me feel as if I had traveled to the villages and tribes in Yunnan.


minority performance

When the scenic spot opens, there will be a very wonderful garden opening dance ceremony. Brothers and sisters from Yunnan's Dai, Yi, Wa, Lisu, Hani and other southwestern ethnic minorities sing and dance, let us feel the festive atmosphere early in the morning .

Walking into the scenic spot, there are also their performances and welcoming tourists along the way, so I can't help but come closer, wanting to take a good look at their exquisite national costumes.

The intangible cultural heritage performances performed on the national stage were full of seats, and intangible cultural heritage cultural performances such as Ah Xi's jumping into the moon, blowing leaves, and breathing fire drew bursts of cheers and applause. To be able to enjoy so many wonderful and rich ethnic performances at one time is only possible in Yalugu.


Tropical Plant Pavilion

Here is like a small tropical rainforest, with twining vines and lush vegetation, it is worthy of being called "Northern Xishuangbanna".

The museum brings together coffee, cocoa, lucuma trees introduced from Cuba, yellow pears with grimace-like textures, garbo fruit trees bearing "grapes" on their trunks, and "seeing blood to seal the throat" that I have heard about for a long time but the first time I saw it... It is simply an encyclopedia of tropical plants, which makes adults and children can't help feeling the wonder of nature.


children's play area

In the Dinosaur Pavilion next to the Tropical Plant Pavilion, the dinosaurs hidden in the forest are lifelike. After sensing the crowd, there will be various movements and sounds, causing the children around them to scream.

Elf Tribe is a fantasy jungle experience paradise presented by the combination of thousands of tropical plants and cute pets, with an immersive jungle story and a zero-distance interactive experience of cute pets.

Shuttle through the tropical rainforest, have close contact with meerkats, alpacas, kangaroos, ostriches, and peacocks, and then play through the checkpoints, allowing children to learn about plants and animals while feeling the fun of nature and ambition, killing two birds with one stone .


summer food

The toast bar and fast food restaurant in the scenic area use solid wood, totem, stone and other elements to reproduce the original impression of Yunnan. The restaurant has Yalugu's characteristic farmhouse stew in a firewood pot and a variety of Yunnan ethnic specialties.

During the Songkran and Torch Festival activities, the scenic spot also offers an 88 yuan buffet barbecue dinner, with unlimited beer, drinks, barbecue, crayfish, and various late-night snacks. Absolute value~

There is a band performance next to the restaurant, and actors from each ethnic minority will sing toast songs during the meal. After a water fight all afternoon and hungry stomachs, such a ceremonial barbecue feast really made this summer weekend perfect~

Played here from morning to night, although the whole body is soaked, it is like returning to the simplest and happy time of childhood. I regret that I didn’t know this treasure place earlier, so that I can experience the local customs, customs, environment and food of Yunnan without leaving Beijing, and feel the national festival atmosphere that I have never had the opportunity to see.

One day in Yalugu, really very happy, very summer~

【Travel tips】

1. Attractions: Beijing Yalu Ancient Tropical Botanical Garden

2. Event: "Surging Summer Water and Fire Carnival" The 6th Water-Splashing Festival and the 3rd Torch Festival (July 10th to August 29th every Saturday)

3. Address: North Exit of Zhuzhuang, Changziying Town, Daxing District, Beijing

4. Transportation: Self-driving is about 1 hour's drive from the urban area, parking is free; get off at Zhuzhuang Station on bus 940/926/976/826/20

5. Tickets: The original price is 80 yuan, and the event special package is 69.9 yuan (some ticketing platforms can also snap up tickets for 9.9 yuan for the matinee / 39.9 yuan for the night show)

6. Participating in the Songkran Festival will definitely get wet, so be sure to prepare another set of clothes, and waterproof protection for mobile phones/cameras and other equipment.

7. Beijing is humid and hot after falling, so pay attention to heatstroke prevention and sun protection.