Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden

The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is a large research institution in southwestern Yunnan province with specialized gardens for palms, bamboo, shade plants, and orchids. A significant portion of the grounds preserves original tropical rainforest that represents the natural ecosystem of this region.

The institution was established in 1959 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as part of early Chinese efforts to advance tropical research. It grew into a regional center for conserving and understanding the southwestern rainforest.

The garden serves as a meeting place where researchers from around the world come together to study tropical plants and share their knowledge. Visitors can observe how this international scientific work highlights the importance of rainforest diversity for understanding nature.

Visitors can explore the garden areas on foot along marked pathways that take between two and five hours depending on which sections are visited. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water since the tropical climate is hot and humid.

The garden is the only place in China where the rare parasitic flowering plant Sapria Himalayana has been discovered, making it an extraordinary and little-known botanical finding. Researchers on site have documented this plant species and study its way of life in the rainforest.