Nanjing Botanical Garden - the first national botanical gardens in China
Last Update: 15th October 2020
With an area of 186 hectares, Nanjing Botanical Garden is composed of North Garden and South Garden. The garden is home to more than 5,000 species of plants. It has 700,000 pieces of specimens. The North Garden focuses on the protection, research, and use of central and northern subtropical plants in China, and the South Garden is a botanical expo garden with tropical plants.
- Chinese Name: Nanjing Zhongshan Zhiwuyuan (南京中山植物园)
- Area: 186 x hectares
- Things to do there: Photography, Plants
- Who visits: Photographers, Botanists
- Time required: 2-3 hour
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Nanjing Botanical Garden, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
Originally built in 1929, the Nanjing Botanical Garden – North Garden offers 10 specialized gardens. You can see a variety of ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and economic plants there. In addition, the largest hall of herbarium specimens across the East China is located in the garden.
The South Garden has Tropical Plant Garden, Red Maple Scenic Area, Bonsai Garden, Rose Garden, Medicinal Plants Garden, Pine and Cypress Garden, Botanic Garden for the Blind, etc.
At the Tropical Plant Garden, you’ll see Jatropha podagrica Hook, Dioscorea elephantipes, and other tropical plants from all over the world. It is also worth admiring the rich species of phalaenopsis in the greenhouse.
In spring and summer, the Rose Garden is one of the most popular in the garden. China rose, water jasmine, azalea, camellia, and Chinese herbaceous peony in blossom create amazing views to enjoy. In summer, you can appreciate the water lily, Victoria lily, and yellow flag in the pool. Between early November and early December, Red Maple Scenic Area with more than 20 species of Aceraceae is a paradise for photographers. Many of the trees have yellow, golden, or red leaves.
At the Medicinal Plants Garden, you’ll find many special Chinese herbal medicines, including barberry, Camptotheca acuminata Decne, horse chestnut, Paris polyphylla, Coptis chinensis, Dioscorea zingiberensis and the like.
If you don’t want to get crowded, the best time to visit the garden is in the afternoon.
The best months to visit are from March to November.
A few buses pass by the garden. Thus, there are only a few options.
- Rent a a vehicle to the hall. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take Bus 20, 315, or Bus 203 to the Stop of Zhongshan Zhiwuyuan (中山植物园站). Then, walk to the garden.
Additional Nanjing Botanical Garden Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 08:30 – 17:00
- As at 15th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the North Garden is 15 CNY per person; children under 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are free of charge; the elder between 60 years old (60 years old included) and 70 years old (70 years old not included) are charged 7.5 CNY per person; the elder above 70 years old (70 years old not included) are free of charge.
- As at 15th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the South Garden is 45 CNY per person; children under 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are free of charge; the elder between 60 years old (60 years old included) and 70 years old (70 years old not included) are charged 22.5 CNY per person; the elder above 70 years old (70 years old not included) are free of charge.
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Nanjing Botanical Garden, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.