Hangzhou Botanical Garden

» Hangzhou, Zhe Jiang

Hangzhou Botanical Garden Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Located at the foot of Jade Spring Hill northwest of the West Lake, Hangzhou Botanical Garden now occupies 231.7 hectares and holds approximately 4,000 species of plants placed there since the founding year of 1956. As the biggest botanical sanctuary in China, the garden, which is not only a park in which to feast your eyes on beautiful plants, but also a research base where fields such as the cultivation of plants and protection of environment are studied.

The garden has wonderful scenery and an excellent environment. It is beautiful, with decorative architecture including pavilions and kiosks. Verdant trees, colorful and lovely flowers, and extremely fresh air seem to bring people into a world full of the pleasure of natural beauty.

Two main sections

The garden is divided into two main sections: the research section and the pleasure gardens.

Research section

The research section is where the cultivation of plants and protection of the environment are being studied.

Pleasure gardens

The pleasure gardens are divided into gardens including the Botany Classification Garden, Botany Appreciation Garden, Bamboo Garden, Garden of Economic Plants, Plant Resources Museum, and the Medicinal Garden.

• Botany Appreciation Garden
  In the Botany Appreciation Garden, the "Lingfeng Tanmei" is an excellent scene that really catches tourists' eyes: Over 5,000 plum trees are standing upright. When winter comes, the majestic and charming picture of plum trees stretching up, towards the cold wind and snowflakes falling onto plum blossoms is an amazing sight.
• Bamboo Garden
  Each garden has unique features. The Bamboo Garden is special and interesting: A kind of bamboo named Damaozhu grows very fast - reaching 1 meter (approx. 3 feet) in height during one night and growing as tall as a three-stories building during one month. Some bamboos are small like grass, and some have spots on stems.
• Garden of Economic Plants
  In the Garden of Economic Plants, plants are visible which can be used to produce fiber, medicine, flavors, or special kinds of industrial materials. They provide tourists not only with the wonderful scenery of flourishing trees but also an ideal place for summering.

Jade Spring

Jade Spring, one of the many scenic spots inside the garden, is famous for its pure water. People there can enjoy watching the many colorful carps in the spring water. Nowadays, "Appreciating Plum Blossom in Lingfeng Temple" and "Enjoying Jumping Fish in Jade Spring" are considered the best tourist attractions around the West Lake area.

Charming four seasons

No matter what season it is, the garden will give tourists endless pleasure. The beautiful Yulan trees in spring, the leisure hours spent viewing the lotus or on the hammock forest in summer, the fragrance of sweet-scented-osmanthus in autumn, the pines and bamboos which are still green and vigorous in winter add great pleasure to any visit here. Some entertainment facilities in the botanic garden offer tourists a chance to relax to their hearts content.

How to get there

Take bus No.7, No.15, No.28

When to visit

• Opening Hours: 7:00a.m. - 17:00p.m.

Attractions around » Hangzhou, Zhe Jiang

Natural Scene

• West Lake
• Mt. Putuoshan
• Lake Qiandaohu
• Feilaifeng Peak
• Solitary Hill
• Red Carp Pond
• Twin Peaks Piercing the Clouds
• Qiantang River
• Hupao Spring
• Grand Canal

Historical Site

• Lingyin Temple
• Ancient Town of Wuzhen
• Liuhe Pagoda
• Hefang Street
• Tomb of General Yue Fei

Cultural Site

• Hangzhou Botanical Garden
• National Tea Museum
• China National Silk Museum
• Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Orchid Pavilion

Day Entertainment & Sports

• Jian Lake Golf Culb

Shopping & Leisure

• Hefang Street

Hangzhou Botanical Garden Highlights

Garden & Park in Great China

• Nanwan Monkey Island
• Summer Palace
• Norbulingka Park
• Tiger Hill
• Yuantouzhu
• Humble Administrator's Garden
• Mt. Lushan
• West Hill
• Diecai Hill
• Fubo Hill
• Elephant Trunk Hill
• Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone
• Yuexiu Park
• Liuyuan Garden
• Jinshan Temple
• Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden
• Stone Bell Hill
• Tianyi Pavilion
• Eling Park
• Long Island
• Window of the World
• Splendid China
• Seven Star Park
• Yuelu Academy
• Moon Hill
• Luhuitou Park
• Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden
• Beijing Zoo
• Fragrant Hill
• Duxiu Peak
• Jinshitan Scenic Area
• Dragon Pavilion
• Schoolboy Hill
• Chongqing Zoo
• Wangjiang Park
• Wenshuyuan
• Beihai Park
• Old Summer Palace
• Siberia Tiger Park
• Turtle Garden
• Pagoda Hill
• Yueyang Tower
• Village of Ethnic Culture
• Mural Hill
• Snail Hill
• Yuquan Park
• Liyuan Garden
• Panmen Gate
• Shizilin Garden
• Yuyuan Garden
• Big Banyan Tree
• Grand View Tower
• Xinghai Park
• Merryland World
• Master-of-Nets Garden
• Heyuan Garden
• Geyuan Garden
• Laodong Park
• Grand View Garden
• Shenyang Forest Wild Zoo
• Botanical Garden
• Drum Hill
• White Pagoda Mountain Park
• Five Spring Park
• Waterwheel Park
• Guiyang Forest Park
• Sun Island Park
• Zhaolin Park
• Wenfeng Park
• Hangzhou Botanical Garden
• Guyi Garden
• Green Lake Park
• Canglang Pavilion
• Chakpori Hill
• Water Park
• Jade Buddha Park
• Orchid Pavilion
• Children's Park
• Jade Emperor Pavilion
• Qianling Park

Hangzhou Botanical Garden FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. Hangzhou's weather and something we need to know

  Food

1. What's the specialty of Hangzhou cuisine?
2. What are some famous restaurants in Hangzhou?

  Shopping

1. What are the best souvenirs in Hangzhou?

  Customs

1. What are some local festivals in Hangzhou?

• Hangzhou's weather and something we need to know

  Hangzhou's weather is always warm and humid, with a clear division of four seasons.

  The peak season usually starts in March and lasts for a month, due to a flower-blooming season, with a temperature of 9 to 15 C.

  From late June to early July, it is the plum rain season. Rainfalls are very unpredictable. Typhoon takes places in the early August with pouring rains, so during this period of time, an umbrella is always needed when you prepare to go out.

  The winter in Hangzhou is just like other cities' in south China, with piercing cold. Warm clothes are strongly suggested.

  If you want to take a walk alongside the West Lake, please wear some warm clothes too, to avoid from getting a clod which will affect your journey.

  Each season in Hangzhou has its own splendid view and specialty, which are all worth visiting.

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• What's the specialty of Hangzhou cuisine?

  Hangzhou cuisine does have it's own characteristics: smells nice, tastes good and looks pleasant. Fresh tastes is the most well-known specialty of Hangzhou cuisine.

  The most famous dishes are Fish Maw with Chinese Broccoli, Dongpo Pork, West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, etc.

  You can not underestimate Hangzhou's snacks. Thousands years of history provides a peculiarity of Hangzhou snacks. Congbaohui, Cat Ears (Do not panic. It's not really cat's ears. It's dough in a cat's ear's shape and is cooked in different ways), Noodles with Preserved Vegetable and Sliced Pork and Bamboo Shoots in Soup, Crisp Cakes, etc.

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• What are some famous restaurants in Hangzhou?

  Louwailou Restaurant

  Built in the 1840s by a Qing Dynasty Noble, Louwailou Restaurant is said to be the oldest restaurant in China. Many foreign heads have dined there when visiting this city.

  The Restaurant features authentic Hangzhou cuisine. Tasty food served including West Lake Carp in Sweet and Sour Sauce, Beggar's Chicken as well as Dragon Well Tea served with snacks.

  Address: No 30 Gushan Road
  Tel: (0571) 8796 9023
  Opening Hours: Open daily 11:30am - 2:30pm and 4:30pm - 8:30pm

  Tianwaitian Restaurant

  This is also a very old restaurant first opened in 1910. its nice location close to the Lingyin Temple, tasty seafood and warm service make the restaurant very popular eating place for tourist.

  Address: No. 2 Tianzhu Road, outside the Peak Flown from Afar Park entrance
  Tel: (0571) 8796 0599
  Opening hours: Open Daily 7am - 9pm
  

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• What are the best souvenirs to best in Hangzhou?

  Silk

  Hangzhou is well known for producing excellent silks, including satins.

  The best place for purchasing silk in Hangzhou is at Hangzhou Silk City, the biggest silk wholesale and retail market in China with more than 600 silk enterprises dealing in a wide variety of pure silk fabrics, garments, handicraft articles, scarves, and ties.

  It is located at No.253 Xinhua Road (at the intersection of Fengqi Road, Tiyuchang Road, and Xinhua Road). You can get to the site by bus No.11 and 28.

  Tea

  Hangzhou Longjing Tea (Dragon Well Tea) is considered China's best. It is not only famous for its unique green color, fragrant aroma, sweet taste, and flat appearance, but is also regarded as a health elixir.

  The tea falls into different grades; the best is the first pick of a year, normally in late March or early April.

  Besides its good quality, Longjing Tea also enjoys a famous long history. If you are interested in tea culture and history, Meijiawu Village in West Lake District is the ideal spot where you can have a cup of tea, watch a tea ceremony, and select tea under professional guidance.

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• What are some local festivals in Hangzhou?

  There are some remarkable festivals in Hangzhou, maybe you will experience one of them if you are lucky enough:
  

  • Dragon Well Tea Festival (April-May)
    The annual Dragon Well Tea Festival, hosted by Dragon Well Village, attracts people from everywhere to take part in activities such as picking tea, drinking tea, enjoying a tea ceremony, and walking in the countryside.
    
    
  • West Lake Lotus Festival (July-August)
    The main activities of this festival include viewing the beautiful lotus, picking lotus seed pods, shelling lotus seed, watching folk drama performances, and visiting the lotus exhibition. The host area is one of the scenic spots of West Lake-Qu Yuan Feng He.
    
    
  • West Lake Osmanthus Festival (September-October)
    Since osmanthus is the city flower of Hangzhou, the government has decreed that each year during September when osmanthus blooms, Hangzhou citizens host the West Lake Osmanthus Festival.
    
    The sites of the celebration are usually in Man Long Gui Yu Park, Man Jue Long Village, and Hangzhou Arboretum. Appreciating osmanthus and the food made of osmanthus, drinking tea, watching shows and painting exhibitions are the main activities during the festival.
    
    
  • China International Qiantang River Tidal Bore Festival (September-the 18th day of the eighth lunar month)
    During this tourist-friendly festival, one of the largest in China, visitors arrive to appreciate the great spectacle of the Qiantang River Bore. The bore is a unique natural phenomenon triggered by the pull of the moon.
    
    When the tides come in, a wave is produced so large that it surges several meters high. Every year this magnificent wonder draws thousands of tourists from all over the world.
    
    
  • West Lake International Fireworks Show (In the middle of October)
    This dazzling event in West Lake draws thousand of viewers to the fireworks site to witness the glittering and colorful skyline. Thousands of new fireworks products from different countries entertain enthusiastic visitors.
  
  
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