Xishuangbanna | Step into the Tropical Botanical Garden for a Magical Nature Adventure

The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is China's largest botanical garden with the richest collection of species and the most specialized plant zones. The garden is divided into eastern and western sections. The western area focuses on ornamental plants, featuring specialized gardens like the Exotic Flowers Garden, Palm Garden, and Giant Water Lily Pond (where visitors can take photos standing on the lily pads from June to September). The eastern area is a narrow stretch of tropical rainforest, perfect for hiking, where you can witness rainforest wonders like giant buttress roots and strangler figs. ⭐️ Xishuangbanna · CAS Tropical Botanical Garden 🚕 Transportation: The garden is 55 km from the city center, about a 1-hour drive. Renting a car or hiring a private vehicle is recommended. 🎫 Ticket: 80 RMB/person 💁 Highlights of the Western Section: 1⃣ Giant Water Lily Pond This season, massive water lily leaves float on the surface—children (<80 lbs) can even sit on them! For photos on the bamboo walkway, it's 20 RMB/person for 30 minutes. The iconic tree with winding vines is also here. 2⃣ Palm Garden Towering, straight palm trees create stunning light and shadow effects as sunlight filters through. 3⃣ Exotic Flowers Garden Discover dancing grass, shy plants that react to touch, and many never-before-seen botanical wonders. 4⃣ Hundred Flowers Garden Home to pink paper fan flowers and the "movie tree," this area blooms year-round. The uphill path offers breathtaking views, perfect for photos and videos. ⚠️ Tips: 🔸 Visit in the morning for cooler weather and better lighting—afternoons are scorching hot. 🔸 Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are a must! The garden has lots of insects and strong UV exposure. 🔸 Since it's far from the city, we stayed at the Anantara Hotel to see fireflies at night, but heavy rain canceled the event—a bit disappointing!