The Chengdu World Horticultural Exposition

In recent years, Chengdu has built many parks, each more impressive than the last. The boundary between the parks and the city has blurred, making life for Chengdu residents increasingly happy. One of these parks is built to the highest standards. It used to cost CNY 120 per person to enter, but now it's free to the public. This park, the main venue of the Chengdu World Horticultural Exposition, is definitely worth visiting. May is the season to see flowers and plants, and this place will provide a top-notch visual experience. The World Horticultural Exposition is located on the banks of the Jiangxi River in the Chengdu Eastern New Area, covering an area of 3,633 mu. It has 113 themed exhibition gardens and six core pavilions, covering international horticulture, Chinese horticulture, living horticulture, and other diverse exhibition areas, making it a pilgrimage site for global horticulture enthusiasts. The World Horticultural Exposition condenses the horticultural essence, cultural customs, and ecological wisdom of the world's five continents into one park. From the antique buildings with the charm of the Tang Dynasty to the exotic international exhibition gardens, from the futuristic horticulture full of technology to the lively Bashu life, this place is truly a paradise for plants. As the tallest building in the park, the Jin Yun Tower rises straight into the clouds with a majestic height of 46.4m, replicating the grandeur of the "Scattering Flower Tower" of the Tang Dynasty. It recreates the grand scene described by Li Bai: "The sun shines on the head of Jin City, and the morning light scatters on the Flower Tower." Climbing the tower, you can overlook the entire sea of flowers in the park and the rolling hills of the Longquan Mountains. The design of the main pavilion is inspired by the "Sun God Bird" gold ornament from Sanxingdui. The architectural form resembles a divine bird spreading its wings, holding flowers to pray for blessings. The plant pavilion consists of three semi-spherical "seed halls," displaying more than 500 kinds of rare plants from around the world, including ecological scenes such as tropical rainforests and desert plants. The Tianfu Habitat Pavilion is interwoven with red, green, and blue circular rings, restoring the Chengdu lifestyle scenes of "courtyard teahouses" and "listening to the wind in the bamboo forest." Every city has its own park. The Chengdu Garden is based on Du Fu's "Flowers weigh down the Jin Guan City," with red walls, bamboo shadows, and hibiscus blooming, recreating the beauty of western Sichuan gardens. The Shanghai Garden showcases the old city style with Shikumen buildings and Haipai gardens. The Ningbo Garden uses local plants such as Chinese tallow trees and Putuo hornbeams to create natural charm. The Beijing Garden combines the royal style and the gentleness of Jiangnan. The "Hui Wan Zong Chun Zhi Ge" in the Eight Views replicates the remains of the Old Summer Palace. Climbing the pavilion, you can overlook the spring scenery of the entire garden. There are also gardens from every city in Sichuan, such as the Zigong Garden. In the dinosaur-themed "Dragon Hidden Maze Valley," simulated dinosaurs shake their heads and wag their tails, matched with salt well and lantern elements. In the Ya'an Garden, adorable giant panda sculptures sit or lie down, and bamboo forests and tea fields recreate the "hometown of national treasures." The Deyang Garden cleverly integrates ancient Shu civilization with modern horticulture through Sanxingdui bronze sacred trees, masks, and corridors. The "Tianfu Eye" Ferris wheel, the highest point in the park, is 88m high. When it rises to the top, you can see the clear waters of the Jiangxi River and the outline of the distant mountains, which is known as "Chengdu's most romantic aerial viewing platform." The World Horticultural Exposition is really beautiful. There are pavilions, terraces, towers, rockeries, waterside pavilions, waterfalls, and streams. The ticket price used to be as high as CNY 120, but now it is open for free. However, some attractions are a bit messy due to lack of management, but it does not affect the overall experience. Because it is relatively far away, on the east side of Longquan Mountain, many people have not been there yet. You could skip it when it cost money, but now that it's free, you should go and see it. Address: No. 3199, Park Avenue, Sancha Street, Eastern New Area, Jianyang City Tickets: Free Recommended route for a quick tour: Gate 1 → Chinese Horticulture Area → International Horticulture Area → Plant Pavilion → Tianfu Eye → Gate 2, the whole journey takes about 5–6 hrs