HRH Prince William finished off his first royal tour of China with a visit to Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort and Spa in the country's Yunnan province on Tuesday (March 4th). The second in line to the British throne spent the day in Yunnan visiting an elephant sanctuary and meeting with Chinese conservationists to hear what measures China is taking to protect the Asian elephant population in the area.

The prince, who is patron and president of a number of charities that campaign against the illegal trade in ivory, also met local villagers to hear how they are adapting to living in close proximity to wild elephants. Xishuangbanna, which borders Myanmar and Laos, is the only part China where wild elephants still roam in the wild, with government estimates of around 250 mammals left in the area.

His Royal Highness was greeted at the resort by local Dai Tribe dancers and was presented with a traditional woven cloth depicting village life in the area by Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort and Spa's, General Manager, Eugene Hendriks.