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Situated in the deep west of Yunnan province surrounded on three sides by Myanmar, the Dehong Autonomous Prefecture has been thriving off trade with Myanmar since the border opened up in 1990.
"Dehong" is a word in the Dai language, which means "the lower reaches of the Nujiang River". Thanks to its location, Dehong boasts a subtropical climate with cool summers and warm winters. The hottest months of the year are April to September with average temperatures of 25β. The average temperature from November to March is 19β.
Dehong's population is half Han Chinese and half ethnic minorities, mainly Jingpo and Dai. The Burmese minorities which are employed mainly in border trade are readily visible in their national dress of traditional sarongs.
Recently, Dehong has gotten a reputation for the types of wonderful goods that have passed through the border. The border town of Ruili, whose name means "fortunate" and "beautiful", is one of the first-class national border ports. Some predict the town to become the next big destination in Yunnan for travelers. Browsing the markets in Ruili, you will come across some Burmese stallholders.
Visitors to Dehong are able to buy some of the cheapest jewels and jade wares in the world. Many travelers come here specifically to get first dibs on goods coming in from India, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Many business-savy visitors extend their stays in order to set up their own businesses.
The area is known for Hinayana Buddist temples, sprawling kilometers of Banyan trees, pagodas, the subtropical natural scenery, and ethnic minority culture.
Dehong is a paradise for gourmets. Visitors have the opportunity to try all kinds of weird and delicious foods: Sour Pa Dish of the Dai people, Ghost Chicken of the Jingpo people, Palm Rice Noodle of the Achang people, to name just a few.
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