Local Dai people call the Ganlan Basin the " peacock's tail ", meaning the most beautiful part of Xishuangbanna. " No trip to Xishuangbanna is complete without a visit to Ganlan Basin ", as the popular saying goes.

The Ganlan Basin (Ganlanba) derives its name from the fact that it's forever clothed in greenery, and that it takes the shape of an olive. It is located in the lower reaches of Lancang River, 40kms from Jung Hong city and it is the fourth biggest dam of the 23 dams in Xishuangbanna. The area has a typical tropical zone landscapes with low terrain and moist climate. Ganlanba covers an area of 50 square kilometers and is 530 meters above sea level, which is the lowest place in Xishuangbanna. A total of 64 Dai-inhabited villages are found on the Basin; bamboo huts shine in the sun amongst the coconut trees, water flows past them all the year round, and flowers bloom in all four seasons. Ganlan Basin, with its' bamboo huts hiding amongst the virgin rain forest, is a place where man lives at one with nature in timeless peace.

Menghan remains a wonderful retreat from hectic Jinghong. The town itself is fairly forgettable, but if you come on a bike ride there is plenty of scope for exploration in the neighbourhood. Weather in the region is hot, humid, which brings in various tropical fruits like coconut, areca, banana, mango, litchi, carambola, pineapple honey, etc, as well as great amount of candied fruit.