Dehong Overview
Introduction of Dehong in Brief
Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture is known as the Peacock Town which is located in the west of Yunnan. Dehong is a transliteration from Dai language, meaning 'the downstream of the Nujiang River'. Dehong is not only the outlet of the ancient “The Southwest Silk Road of China”, but also the outlet of the Yunnan-Myanmar Road. At present，it is still the golden port leading to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Dehong is the fascinating place where the Dai and Jingpo people live. It offers the charming natural scenery and the superior climatic conditions. Local people forget the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy the nature and appreciate the minority customs.
Basic Information About Dehong
Chinese Name: 德宏傣族景颇族自治州
English Name: Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture
Capital City: Mangshi City
Dailing Code : 0692
Area : 11500 square kilometers
Population: 1,211,000
Language: Dai Dialect, Jingpo Dialect, Southwestern Mandarin
History
Dehong was called “Ancient Mengmao Kingdom” in the recording of The Pattra Sutra; it was named as the “Dianyue Elephant Riding Kingdom” under the pen of Simaqian; it was the Jinchi Kingdom in the book of “Marcopolo and His Travels”. Dehong is not only the outlet of the ancient “The Southwest Silk Road of China”, but also the outlet of the Yunnan-Myanmar Road. At present，it is still the golden port leading to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Since its founding in 1953, the Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture has been a great concern of the leaders of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The older generation of party and state leaders such as Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai concerns the troops stationed in border areas, cadres and the people of all nationalities. Whatever, different ethnic groups live in the pure land in harmony.
Geography
Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southwest border of China. It is one of the eight minority autonomous prefectures in Yunnan Province. It neighbors Longling County and Tengchong County of Baoshan City in the east and northeast. It also borders Burma in south, west and northwest. Except for Lianghe County, the whole state has border lines.
Dehong is located in the southern part of the Hengduan Mountains in the west of Yunnan Guizhou Plateau. The western mountains of Gaoligong Mountains extend into Dehong.The highest point in the whole state is 3404.6 meters in the Dangniang mountain in the north of the Yingjiang River, and the lowest point in the Jieyang Valley in the west of Yingjiang, only 210 meters above sea level. The state is generally 800 - 2100 meters above sea level.
Local Culture
Local culture emphasizes on the minority culture and Hinayana Buddhist culture in Dehong, which make Dehong colorful and interesting. The literature and art in Dehong are fantastic, covering the drama, music, dancing and handicrafts. All of these show the booming culture of Dehong. There is one point which should be remarked in Dehong. That is the strong belief in Hinayana Buddhism represented in the forest of pagodas and temples. Local culture of Dehong is the integration of diverse culture.
Climate
The region enjoys a subtropical monsoonal climate without winter chills nor intense summer heat. It has clear dry and humid seasons with good rainfall. Its annual average temperature is around 18-20℃ (64.4-68℉). Temperatures vary greatly during the day, and it can reach 25℃ (77℉) in daytime during winter.
The best time to visit Mangshi is from October to April of following year to avoid the hot and humid seasons.
Transportation
The transportation of Dehong is convenient in general. There are long-distance buses and airlines from Kunming to Mangshi Airport. The railway station is being built. It is also convenient to get around in Dehong.
Attraction
Dehong, City of Peacock, emphasizes on ethnic culture and tropical landscape, which is away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Travelers can enjoy the leisurely life pace in the ethnic villages, appreciating the dancing of local people. There are also natural tropical scenic spots like Ruili River and Daying River. Otherwise, local Buddhist architectures can show you the beliefs of local people. Step into the Yunyan Pagoda and Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda and find peace. Festivals of the Achang and Jingpo ethnic minorities are big events in Dehong. We suggest travellers take part in these festivals because it’s a good chance to discover the minorities culture in Dehong.
Administration Division
Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture administrates 2 cities(Mangshi City, Ruili City) and 3 counties(Lianghe County, Longchuan County and Yingjiang County). Its government is located in Mangshi.
