Travel from Yunnan to Laos
Xishuangbanna Region (South Yunnan) Xishuangbanna is a forested region with tropical climate in Yunnan , a bit like Laos but in China. If you are going to the real Laos I wouldn't waste my time here in an area that is getting more and more industrialized by the Chinese and full of ugly shoe box houses covered in bathroom tiles with blue windows. There is a nice walking route along the last villages though.
Visa for Laos
The visa to Laos can be easily purchased in the Consulate of Laos in Kunming, that is a lot closer to the border between Laos and China than the embassy of Laos in China situated in Beijing.
Travel by public transport from Lijiang (Yunnan) to Laos
The time table that follows is the trip so as I did it and you better check well in advance because bus timing do change and you better work out a more actual time table.
* Travel from Lijiang to Xiaguan (New Dali) : departure bus 7:10 - arrival bus 10:10, 39 Yuan.
* Travel from Xiaguan to Kunming : departure bus 10:30 - arrival bus 15:30, 70 Yuan.
* Travel from Kunming to Jinghong : departure bus 16:30 - arrival bus 18:30 (the following day, night bus), 118 Yuan, this road is very bumpy.
* Travel from Jinghong to Mengla : the last bus departs at 14:20, the trip takes 5 hours, 25 Yuan.
* Travel from Mengla to Mohan and Boten (the border villages between China and Laos), 6-person group taxis leave the south bus station Mengla (about 2 km from the North station where the bus from Jinghong arrives) as soon as they are full. The trip is very easily done in the morning. cost 12 Yuan (60 Yuan if you pay for the whole taxi. The ride to the border between China and Laos takes about 1 hour. Jinghong
- Sights in Jinghong : Jinghong is a rather big Chinese city without any real sights. Especially not if it keeps raining the whole day which apparently often is the case.
- Budget hotels in Jinghong : Dali Building Inn Hotel : bamboo-bungalow houses a bit lost in between the flat blocks. 25 Yuan per bed including mosquito net. The hot water is provided by a sun panel which means that if it's raining there is no hot water... The toilet has a door!
- internet cafes in Jinghong : not far from the Dali building Inn Hotel is there a big internet cafe with a good connection where you can surf on the internet for 3 Yuan per hour.
Mengla
- Sights : Mengla is a small Chinese city, nothing particular unless you are interested in prostitution (at the hair dresser) or take your last chance of unembarrassed being able to let go in an karaoke evening (near the North bus station the singing devotees gather)
- Budget hotels in Mengla : there is one hotel opposite the bus station with good rooms for 40 Yuan and simple rooms with bathroom for 25 Yuan, lots of noise from the karaoke bars.
- There is one internet cafe on the corner not far from the South station of Mengla, next to China Telecom.
- For more information about traveling in Laos, see the Travel guide Laos.
