The White Pagodas, located on the top of a small hill behind Manfeilong village, are the famous group pagodas in Xishuangbanna. They are also called Bamboo Shoot Pagodas because their shapes are like bamboo shoots. The pagodas standing in the rubber trees and bushes consist of pedestal, altar stage, clock bed, alms bowl, lotus, banana bud, precious umbrella, and weather vane. The major pagoda in the middle is 16.29 meters high covered with color ceramic tile on the surface; and eight minor ones around are 9.1 meters in height in eight directions. The eight bottle gourd-shaped minor pagodas with plum blossom-shaped pedestal are marked with red, yellow, purple and white horizontal strokes. In each of the minor pagodas there is a niche for a statue of the Buddha; and in the niche there is a statue of the Buddha.
The Manfeilong Pagoda is situated on the top of a hill near Manfeilong Village, 70 kilometers (43 miles) away from Jinghong City. It was built in the year 1024 and is a famed stupa complex in Xishuangbanna. It is also known by two other names: White Pagoda and Bamboo Shoot Pagoda. These descriptive names are derived from the fact that the pagoda is, of course, white while its overall shape resembles a bamboo shoot. The pagoda is dedicated to Hinayana Buddhism (a small, conservative branch of Buddhism).
The White Feilong Pagodas was built in 1204 with a history of 778 years. It is said the pagodas were designed by three Indian Buddhist monks. The person taking charge of the construction was Hubananpi. All these are recorded in the Pattra Scripture.In the past few years, the pagodas have been restored and become the state historic relic reservation. During the Water-Sprinkling Festival, the Dai people, men and women, old and young, will dance around the pagodas to cerebrate the New Year.
The Manfeilong Pagoda is decorated with beautiful sculpture, relief and colored paintings in the style of the Dai ethnic minority. During the Water-splashing Festival (usually on April 13-15), the villagers from the Manfeilong Village gather at the pagoda and chase one another, splashing water as part of a welcome to the new year in Dai calendar.
Admission Fee: CNY 5 for the White Pagoda and free for the Black Pagoda
Recommended Time for a Visit: Two hours
Opening Hours: 08:30 to 18:00
How to get there:
You can take the bus from Jinghong city to Damenglong. Buses run every 30 minutes. The fare is RMB10 yuan.