入夜千灯明，一江星月流。Rù yè qiān dēng míng, yī jiāng xīngyuè liú – At night a thousand lanterns blaze; a river carries stars and moonlight downstream.
告庄西双景 Gàozhuāng Xīshuāngjǐng Xishuangjing – the name fuses 告庄 Gàozhuāng Gaozhuang, the old Dai village this land once was, with 西双景 Xīshuāngjǐng “the twelve jurisdictions,” a poetic old name for the Xishuangbanna of six Dai principalities – is a purpose-built Dai-themed resort and night-market quarter on the northeast bank of the 澜沧江 Láncāng Jiāng Lancang (Mekong) River in 景洪 Jǐnghóng Jinghong, the prefectural seat. At its heart stands the 大金塔 Dàjīntǎ Great Golden Pagoda, a nine-storey, 66-metre-tall spired tower of gilded Buddhist architecture ringed by four smaller satellite stupas, modelled on the 缅甸 Miǎndiàn Burmese and 傣 Dǎi Dai manner and lit to a shimmer after dark. The whole complex is a grid of low 傣楼 Dǎilóu Dai-style buildings with pitched roofs and carved eaves, threaded by canals meant to recall the water-town feel of the old 景洪 Jǐnghóng, and it was designed less as a single sight than as a place to walk, eat and shop from late afternoon into the small hours.
The honest draw is the night market. From roughly 6 pm the lanes fill with the 湄公河夜市 Méigōng Hé Yèshì Mekong River Night Bazaar – hundreds of stalls selling 傣味 Dǎiwèi Dai-flavour street food (grilled 罗非鱼 luófēiyú tilapia, 菠萝饭 bōluó fàn pineapple rice, 舂鸡脚 chōng jījiǎo pounded chicken feet), fruit shakes, 傣陶 Dǎitáo Dai pottery, 老挝 Lǎowō Lao and 泰国 Tàiguó Thai textiles, and the glowing 孔明灯 kǒngmíngdēng sky-lanterns that vendors sell for release beside the river. The 大金塔 Dàjīntǎ is free to view from outside and there is no gated entry fee to wander the quarter itself; you pay only for food, goods and the occasional rooftop bar with a pagoda view. Get there on foot, by the 景洪 Jǐnghóng city bus, or by 滴滴 Dīdī DiDi – parking is tight after dark – and come on a Friday or Saturday for the fullest stalls and the nightly 傣迪 Dǎidí Dai-style dance shows on the plaza.
Seasons and timing shape the mood. The dry, cool months from November to April are the comfortable window – evenings are balmy rather than muggy, and the river breeze keeps the bazaar lively – while the 泼水节 Pōshuǐ Jié Water-Splashing Festival around mid-April turns 告庄西双景 Gàozhuāng Xīshuāngjǐng into the loud centre of the citywide party. Bring small cash and a phone with space for photos: the pagoda against the blue hour, the lantern-lit canals and the crowd of 傣装 Dǎizhuāng Dai-dressed visitors are the pictures everyone comes for. Budget two to four hours for a stroll-and-feast, or make it your evening base for several nights, since the food scene alone rewards repeat visits.
Practicalities
- Rating: A free-to-wander Dai-themed commercial quarter and night-market district in Jinghong; not a graded national scenic area on its own. The 大金塔 Dàjīntǎ is a functioning Buddhist landmark open to views.
- Tickets: No gate fee to enter the quarter or view the Great Golden Pagoda from outside; you pay per item for food, goods and bars worth confirming whether the pagoda interior or any rooftop platform charges.
- Address: 景洪市澜沧江畔东北岸 Jǐnghóng Shì Láncāng Jiāng pàn dōngběi àn, Xishuangbanna – on the north-east bank of the Lancang (Mekong) in Jinghong; city bus, DiDi, or a 10-15 min walk from the old town worth confirming walking distance.
- Time needed: 2-4 hours for an evening stroll and dinner at the bazaar; most of a night if you bar-hop or catch the dance shows.
Words and Names
告庄西双景 Gàozhuāng Xīshuāngjǐng Xishuangjing · the Dai-themed night-market and resort quarter in Jinghong, “twelve jurisdictions” 大金塔 Dàjīntǎ Great Golden Pagoda · the 66 m, nine-storey gilded tower at the quarter’s heart 景洪 Jǐnghóng Jinghong · the prefectural seat of Xishuangbanna, on the Lancang 澜沧江 Láncāng Jiāng Lancang River · the upper Mekong, the water the quarter sits beside 湄公河夜市 Méigōng Hé Yèshì Mekong Night Bazaar · the riverside night market filling the lanes after dark 傣 Dǎi Dai · the dominant Tai-speaking ethnic group of Xishuangbanna 傣楼 Dǎilóu Dai house · the pitched-roof, carved-eave building style of the quarter 傣味 Dǎiwèi Dai flavour · the sour, grilled, herb-heavy local cuisine of the stalls 孔明灯 kǒngmíngdēng sky lantern · the paper lanterns sold for release by the river 泼水节 Pōshuǐ Jié Water-Splashing Festival · the mid-April Dai new year, Xishuangjing’s peak party 傣装 Dǎizhuāng Dai dress · the bright wrapped-skirt and silver-belt outfit seen across the bazaar
flowcloud would say that 告庄西双景 Gàozhuāng Xīshuāngjǐng is the free-to-wander Dai wonderland of 景洪 Jǐnghóng on the 澜沧江 Láncāng Jiāng – a 大金塔 Dàjīntǎ golden pagoda ringed by night stalls and 孔明灯 kǒngmíngdēng lanterns – and that the move is to arrive at 6 pm for the 湄公河夜市 Méigōng Hé Yèshì and come in the dry months, because the bazaar is the whole point and November to April keeps it balmy. All checked October 2026.
Getting there: The complex sits on the north bank of the 澜沧江 Láncāng Jiāng Lancang River in central 景洪 Jǐnghóng Jinghong, about 20 minutes by car from 嘎洒 Gāsǎ Gasa airport; city buses along 宣慰大道 Xuānwèi Dàdào Xuanwei Avenue stop within a short walk of the 大金塔 dàjīntǎ golden stupa, and anywhere in Jinghong’s hotel belt is a cheap ride away. Service runs late on market nights – worth confirming the details for the current routes. All checked October 2026.