Mengyang Wild Butterfly Breeding Farm

　　About 30 kilometers from Jinghong along the Kunming-Lincang Highway in the direction of Kunming lies Sanchahe in the Mengyang Scenic Area. This place was originally known for observing wild elephants. In 1989, through a collaboration between the World Wildlife Fund and the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve Administration of Yunnan, the first wild butterfly breeding farm on the Chinese mainland was established here.

　　This is a butterfly viewing area where artificial elements blend seamlessly with nature. From mid-March to mid-October each year, a large number of butterflies can be observed. Within the circular netted butterfly garden built in the park, various common tropical and subtropical butterfly species can be seen flying about, resting by the pools, sipping nectar, laying eggs, or emerging from their cocoons. Visitors can enjoy and take photos of them to their heart’s content. The circular netted butterfly garden also features cultivated plants such as birthwort, which are host plants for butterfly larvae, brought in from the surrounding mountains. A variety of nectar-producing flowers favored by adult butterflies have been planted along the butterfly viewing paths.

　　Currently, this is the most ideal and most conveniently accessible butterfly viewing area in Xishuangbanna. The park also houses a butterfly specimen exhibition room, which not only displays specimens but also sells souvenir items such as sealed plastic mounts of real butterflies featuring printed maps for visitors.