Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden offers plant viewing all year round. Even in winter, the exhibition greenhouses present a lush scene. It is a photography hotspot with a strong artistic atmosphere in Shanghai. The botanical garden also holds various flower exhibitions in different seasons and is worth visiting. Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden is named after Chenshan Mountain in the garden. Climbing to the top of the mountain, you can overlook the panoramic view of the park.
In the 20th century, due to quarrying, the south slope of Chenshan Mountain has been cut off. Now, a quarry garden has been built on the site of the quarry, which is a major highlight in the park. Tourists can walk down the steps to the floating bridge on the lake at the bottom of the quarry. The waterfall pours into the lake. Passing through the cave, you can come to the connected rock and medicinal botanical garden, as if really having the feeling of going down a mine. The cherry blossom garden of Chenshan Botanical Garden is located near Gate 1. On both sides of Cherry Blossom Avenue No. 1 is the 1.5-kilometer-long Kawazu cherry blossom avenue. Kawazu cherry is one of the early blooming ‘early cherry’ varieties in Shanghai. Every year at the end of February and early March, large pink flowers will bloom. It is expected to reach the best viewing period in early March. In the spring scenery garden of Chenshan Botanical Garden, several varieties of Pyrus calleryana with strong ornamental value are planted, such as ‘Warrior’, ‘Red Tower’, ‘Rooster’, etc. Walking to the end along the Kawazu cherry blossom avenue, you can see two Pyrus calleryana trees looking at each other with their branches stretching out. Recommended viewing period: early March to mid-to-late March. From March to April, various colors of narcissus, hyacinths, muscari, hippeastrum, tulips and other flowers are sown in a mixed way. Various spring flowers bloom in succession, creating a magnificent scene of continuous blooming. The botanical garden has three gates, Gate 1, Gate 2 and Gate 3. Among them, Gate 1 is the main entrance. Ordinary tourists who want to visit the entire park in the normal order can enter from Gate 1. In addition to the quarry garden in the north of the park, another highlight in the park is the exhibition greenhouse, which is close to Gate 2. Tourists who like photography can enter from Gate 2. The exhibition greenhouse is located in the northeast corner of the park. It consists of three greenhouse halls: Tropical Flower and Fruit Hall, Xerophyte Hall and Rare Plant Hall. There are waterfalls and cave decorations inside. There are silver small-leaf tour route indication arrows in the hall. Just follow the arrows to tour. The Tropical Flower and Fruit Hall is planted with phalaenopsis, bird of paradise (strelitzia reginae), traveler’s palm with several catties of water that can be stored at the bottom of the petiole, palms and other plants. The Xerophyte Hall has all kinds of cacti. Some are slender like cucumbers, some are short and round like watermelons, and there are also various succulent plants with fleshy leaves. In the Rare Plant Hall, you can see rare and peculiar plants formed in the process of survival and evolution in nature, such as carnivorous plants, cycads, ferns, etc. To the southwest of the exhibition greenhouse, there is also a botanical garden for the blind specially set up in the park.The area is themed as ‘A Ray of Sunshine’ due to its resemblance to a grain of rice when viewed from above. This garden primarily caters to the visually impaired and the blind, addressing their tactile, auditory, and olfactory needs by planting various plants that are thornless, have distinct olfactory characteristics, unique plant forms, and bright colors. It features signage in Chinese, English, Braille, and an audio system, along with the construction of tactile paths, handrails, rest pavilions, and toilets suitable for the blind, all in accordance with accessibility standards.
The garden is open from March 25th to April 3rd, Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 19:00; from April 4th to October 31st, from 08:00 to 17:30; from March 25th to April 3rd, Saturday and Sunday, from 08:00 to 17:30; and from November 1st to February 28th, from 08:00 to 17:00. Please check the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden website or announcements at the entrance for any adjustments to opening and closing times due to themed events.
Favorable policies include: Children under 1.3 meters in height or aged 6 and under enter for free; seniors aged 65 and above enter for free with an ID or senior card; seniors aged 60 to 64 enjoy discounts with valid identification. Specific groups such as active-duty military personnel, disabled veterans, martyr’s families, families of military personnel who died in service, families of deceased military personnel, active-duty military family members (parents, spouses, children), disabled individuals, and fire and rescue personnel (active duty, retired, disabled, government-employed firefighters, and fire and rescue academy students) enter for free.
Service facilities include a parking lot: [Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden Parking Lot], reference price: ¥10 per entry; address: 3888 Chenhua Highway, Songjiang District, Shanghai; capacity: 1000 spaces.
Garden transportation: reference price: ¥5 per person per ride; located at the main entrance.
