what is the best way to go about doing a visa run? I'm thinking of flying to Xishuangbanna and taking the bus to Mohan? Is this accurate? I also read that I can do a "turn around" will this work at this border?

www.hugoyunnantravel.com/des_laos.asp

If you are in a rush then you have no choice but fly but if you have time take your time and stop along the way. Mojiang is a good place to stop so you dont have to take a long bus ride all the way to Jinghong. The distance and time is listed on my website so you can get an idea of how long it will take you to get to the border.

You want a ride ....We have one seat left in our car.. It would be cheaper then the bus .but we our leaving Sunday night late(really late)! let me know?

There's only one route to Laos from Kunming. I did this border run by bus back in 2009 when the highway still wasn't finished and it took 13 hours to Mohan. But now that the highway is finished it should only take about 9 hours. Or fly to Jinghong like you said.

And yes, it's possible to do a "turnaround" there. Leave China and then immediately re-enter China. You don't even have to enter Laos or buy a Lao visa (this is different from the Vietnamese visa run at Hekou, where you DO need a Vietnamese visa (expensive at 350 yuan) AND need to pre-order that visa 3 days in advance at the Vietnamese consulate in Kunming. But, Hekou is closer to Kunming (7 hour bus) than Mohan.

Did this run two weeks ago, at that time a flight to Jinghong was the same price as a bus ticket, so I flew. From JH, there is one direct bus daily to Mohan, it leaves at 920am and returns after 3pm (3:50 maybe) (61rmb each way). The bus station in Mohan is only 1km from the border and yes, you can do a turnaround run. If you miss the one bus, there are many buses between Jinghong, Mengla and Mohan.

JH to Mohan takes 3 to 3.5 hours

Hi all, does anybody know if this info about getting from Jinghong to the Laos border is still accurate? Are there any later buses or congregating points for mianbaoche? I would preferably like to depart in the early afternoon. Oh, and any updated hours for the border crossing?

Last time I crossed was almost two years ago. Border closes before 5pm for foreigners. If you are just doing a visa run, I think in another thread someone recently said they weren't allowed back in without entering Laos.

Buses to Mohan/Boten border crossing from Jinghong are pretty frequent, if you simply want to go in/out with your visa - from south bus station. There is a daily bus to Luang Nam Tha from south bus station at 11 AM (used be be at ten, but I did it about 2 weeks ago) - about an hour & fifteen minutes from the border crossing to Luang Nam Tha. Go there & stay at Manychan Guest House for 70,000 Kip (about 55 rmb) per night (bank directly across street changes money & has ATM machine), eat at the restaurant downstairs with broad open front on the street. Manychan is a nice lady. Bus from there back to Jinghong at 8AM daily.

Thanks