Great value! Highly recommend the Xishuangbanna Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden

If you’re talking about the must-visit popular spots in Xishuangbanna, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden is definitely one of them. 🚍There are several transportation options: Didi Bus, the most affordable with frequent departures and convenient, tickets can be purchased in advance (it’s recommended to buy your return ticket early, you can board earlier if you buy late); Direct shuttle, round trip costs around 70-80 RMB, relatively affordable and convenient; Self-driving, offers flexible timing and easy parking at the destination; Charter car, more expensive at 200-300 RMB, suitable for groups or family trips. 🍰There is food available inside the garden, but we chose to bring our own for lunch. Try to visit in the morning when the light is softer, which is better for enjoying the scenery and taking beautiful photos. For example, plants like the dancing grass are more lively in the morning and easier to capture in good condition. 🎫Tickets can be purchased in advance on Xianyu, and you can enter directly by scanning your ID card. If you have enough time and energy, you can visit both the East and West gardens. It’s recommended to take the electric cart for a more relaxed experience. 📢Choosing a quality guide will double your experience. The guided tours are usually at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM. I found a guide online in advance; the teacher was very knowledgeable, explained unique tropical rainforest phenomena like strangler figs and epiphytes with humor, providing a full emotional value throughout. Very satisfied. 👚In November-December in Xishuangbanna, mornings and evenings are cooler, so wear a slightly thicker jacket, but midday under the sun it can be quite warm. For girls, to look good in photos, wear a plain-colored long dress and a sun hat, and don’t forget to bring a jacket! Highlights in the West Garden for viewing and photography: Aquatic Plant Garden: The iconic giant water lily pond is here, with excellent surrounding scenery. Kids can sit on the lily pads for photos, which look great. Palm Garden: One of the most photogenic spots, with towering palm trees and green lawns creating a tropical vibe. Any shot here looks beautiful. Banyan Tree Garden: Experience the wonder of “a forest from one tree” up close, with huge banyan aerial roots hanging down, very impressive. Exotic Flowers Garden: A tropical plant wonderland with many species, like a fantasy world. Even in winter, many flowers are still blooming. Hundred Flowers Garden: The garden is large and adjacent to the hot air balloon area. The reflection in the lake combined with the balloons in the sky is, in my opinion, the most photogenic spot in the entire garden! (Unfortunately, I didn’t get to shoot it due to time constraints.) Hot air balloons don’t fly in bad weather and usually stop around 5 PM when there are fewer people, so it’s best to go early. A ride costs 280 RMB, which is not very cost-effective; you can just take photos without riding. 💡Tips ✔️The West Garden has no hills or stairs, making it friendly for elderly and children, perfect for family outings; ✔️Wearing white or highly saturated colors makes photos stand out; ✔️Be sure to protect against mosquitoes and bring mosquito repellent cream.