Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

As the only tropical rainforest nature reserve in China, the area offers surprising biological diversity amid its virgin-forest setting. A 900-year-old, 70-meter-high banyan tree in Daluo town is an attraction in itself. It covers an area of 120 square meters. During the April 13-15 Water-Sprinkling Festival, the local Dai ethnic group dip branches in the river and sprinkle water on people to bestow blessings. This is also the only place to find wild elephants in China.