Xishuangbanna

The Kingdom of Tropical Plants

1.Located in Menglun: Town, Mengla County, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a sprawling emerald oasis situated on Hulu Island (Gourd Island) in the Luo River. Covering an area of approximately 1,125 hectares, it is recognized as China's largest botanical garden, the most species-rich plant gene bank, and a National 5A-level tourist attraction. Often hailed as a "microcosm of the tropical plant kingdom," the garden is home to over 14,000 species of living plants and 39 dedicated specialty zones. It serves as a vital sanctuary for biodiversity on the Tropic of Cancer, blending scientific research with breathtaking natural beauty.

The West Area: A Garden of Wonders

2.The West: Area is the heart of the garden's specialty collections and is known for its manicured landscapes and exotic flora.

• 3.The Exotic Flower and Rare Tree Garden: This is a favorite for visitors, featuring the "Dancing Grass" (Codariocalyx motorius) that moves to music and the "Clock Flower" that blooms on a schedule. It also houses the deadly "Blood-sealing Throat" tree (Antiaris toxicaria), known as the most poisonous tree in the world.
• 4.The Giant Water Lily: In the aquatic plant zones, visitors can witness the massive leaves of the Victoria amazonica (Giant Water Lily), which can grow large enough to support the weight of a child or a light adult during the summer.
• 5.Palm Garden: Walking through the Palm Avenue feels like traversing a tropical corridor, lined with hundreds of swaying palm species.

The East Area: The Wild Rainforest

For those seeking adventure and raw nature, the East Area preserves a pristine patch of original tropical rainforest covering about 250 hectares. Here, visitors can hike through the "Green Stone Forest" and witness quintessential rainforest phenomena.

• 6.Rainforest Wonders: The area showcases spectacular "plank buttresses" (massive tree roots), "strangling figs" (where one tree wraps around and kills another), and "cauliflory" (flowers growing directly on old tree trunks).
• 7.The Sky Trees: The forest is dominated by the towering Parashorea chinensis (Wangtianshu), which can reach heights of 80 meters, standing like guardians of the jungle,.
• 8.One Tree Forest: Massive banyan trees spread their aerial roots to create a canopy that looks like an entire forest generated from a single trunk.

A Legacy of Science and History

9.The history of: XTBG is deeply intertwined with the development of modern botany in China. It was founded in 1959 by the renowned botanist Professor Cai Xitao, who led a group of scientists to clear the wilderness on Hulu Island. Originally established to research rubber cultivation and the extraction of "Dragon's Blood" (a medicinal resin), the garden has evolved into a world-class center for biodiversity conservation. Visitors can learn about this legacy at the garden's museum, which documents the transition from resource exploitation to ecological protection.

Night Tours and Cultural Fusion

XTBG offers a unique night tour experience where the forest comes alive with thousands of fireflies, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere along the riverbanks. Culturally, the garden is considered the cradle of ethnic botany, integrating the wisdom of the local Dai, Hani, and Jino people. From the use of medicinal plants to the lore surrounding the "Dancing Grass," the garden connects the rich biodiversity of the rainforest with the vibrant traditions of Xishuangbanna's ethnic minorities.