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Ruili
Ruili, on the southwest border of China
in the Dehong DaiJingpo Autonomous Prefecture in south western
Yunnan Province, features a unique natural landscape, rich
mineral resources and colorful folklore. Adding to its special
location neighboring Myanmar on three sides, the speedy
development of Ruili and its modern life style have still
not removed its aura of mystery. Many people mistakenly
thought it was in Xishuangbanna, but that is not true.
Ruili is a birthplace of the Dai ethnic group. The Ruili
River looks like a white jade belt winding around green
mountains and fields. Ancient tall trees in Jingpo Mountain
Village, a banana forest near Dai's bamboo buildings, egrets
and leisurely herds of cattle created an attractive genre
painted corridor. It is more interesting that a Dai village
spans a section of the Sino-Myanmar border line to form
a special landscape of "one village, two countries."
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Ruili's rainy season starts from July
and ends in October and the name of the city in Dai language
means "fine drizzle." The climate there divides
neatly into dry and rainy seasons. The rain tends to come
down in torrents and ends very quickly. When it rains, people
have no time to take shelter. But even if you get drenched,
the sun soon returns to provide a drying effect. Another
peculiarity is that the rain can be very localized. Thus,
it is pouring in the eastern street and fine day in the
western street. It looks as if a watering car has passed
by. A famous Chinese song named "There Is a Beautiful
Place" describes Ruili. In the 1950s, when he came
to see the picturesque Dai village, green fields, tall bamboo,
blue water of Ruili River and the young women dressing colorfully,
the lyric writer and composer was moved to create a music
and word picture.
In Ruili City, Nongdaobingmao Por is an
important trading point along China's southwestern border
leading to Myanmar, India and Nepal.
Recently along with the deepening of reform
and opening-up, Ruili's frontier trade and tourism are developed
speedily. The border is peaceful and booming. Drg smuggling
has been a concern for society in recent years. But Ruili's
frontier is a protective screen since frontier soldiers
safeguard its peace. In frontier villages and pollution-free
tropical rain forests, one can see the well-received unique-style
Hinayana of the Dai's, exquisite pagodas and fascinating
folk dances. In the Sino-Myanmare border area, the abundance
of gems, jadeware and jadeite create China's largest jewel
market. At the market, tourists will be pleasantly surprised
to find something they like.
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