The Zhongshan Botanical Garden is one of the four major botanical gardens in China. The garden is shaded by green trees and there are numerous exotic flowers and plants. It has attracted countless photography enthusiasts. Many new couples also choose to take wedding photos here.
History of the botanical garden: The Zhongshan Botanical Garden was originally named ‘Father of the Nation Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Botanical Garden’. After the passing of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in order to preserve the precious flowers, plants and trees presented to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum by governments and civil organizations of various countries, this garden was opened in 1929 on the west side of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and near the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Now the botanical garden is divided into North Garden and South Garden. The North Garden is the old area. The South Garden is a new area built in 1999.
North Garden: The North Garden is the plant research center of central and north subtropical regions in China. It has 10 specialized gardens (areas). There are ornamental plant centers, medicinal plant centers, economic plant centers, etc., as well as the Jiangsu Provincial Medicinal Plant Research and Development Center and the Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Ex Situ Conservation. There is also a relatively large herbarium in East China with about 700,000 specimens in its collection.
South Garden: The South Garden is also known as the ‘Botanical Expo Park of the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences’. Entering is the Qianhu Lake. You can overlook the Ming City Wall to the south of Qianhu Lake. The main exhibition areas of the South Garden are all on the north side of Qianhu Lake. According to the landscape focus, it is divided into 11 areas: Tropical Plant Palace, Gramineae Garden, Blind Person’s Botanical Garden, Bonsai Garden, Rose Garden, Medicinal Garden, Pine and Cypress Garden, Arboretum, Plant Classification System Garden and Nanjing Zhongshan Botanical Garden Nature Education Area. A total of about 3,000 kinds of living plants are collected.
In the summer, the Nanjing Zhongshan Botanical Garden is home to the magnificent Victoria Regia, also known as the royal water lily, which boasts an incredible load-bearing capacity, allowing people to stand on its leaves without sinking. Additionally, lotus flowers and water lilies bloom in the summer, creating a picturesque scene on the water’s surface. The garden is open all year round from Tuesday to Sunday, 08:30-17:00; closed all day on Mondays; and open on New Year’s Day and Spring Festival, 08:30-17:00. Preferential policies for children: In both the South and North Gardens, children under 1.4 meters (not including 1.4 meters) enter for free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. For the South Garden, minors over 1.4 meters (including 1.4 meters) (identification required at ticket check) pay half price. For the elderly: In both the South and North Gardens, seniors aged 60 and above (including 60) enter for free with valid identification. For students: In the South Garden, full-time undergraduate and below students pay half price (student ID required at ticket check). For military personnel: In the South Garden, active-duty military personnel enter for free with valid identification. Note: There are no preferential policies in the North Garden. Service facilities include a parking lot: [Ming Xiaoling Parking Lot], reference price: ¥12 per hour; address: Nanjing Ming Xiaoling Parking Lot; capacity: 300 spaces. Essential tips: 1. There are few dining options in the botanical garden, so it’s recommended to bring your own food and enjoy a picnic on the lawn. 2. Bring mosquito repellent in the summer. 3. Official Weibo: Nanjing Zhongshan Botanical Garden
