Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden

Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden conserves nearly 15,000 types of plants in about 30 theme parks and plant zones. It has now become an ideal place for people to embrace nature in Shanghai. In order to make children fully engaged, there are also 4D cinema, tree house, children’s garden, pirate boat and other entertainments to let them know more about the ecosystem while having fun. What’s more, various flower shows are held here at different times, such as the International Orchid Show in April, Rose Show in May and Waterlily Show in August. Chenshan Grassland Broadcast Music Festival held in May and Chenshan Natural Life Festival in October. These are also good opportunities for you to have fun in the plants and flowers paradise. Below are the most popular theme parks and plant zones to see in Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden:

As name suggests, this area was built on a quarry with one-hundred-year history. Designers fully take advantage of its special landform and added waterfall, boardwalks and various plants. The scenery here will remind you of the Chinese traditional ink painting.

The Rock Plants Garden simulates the alpine landscape and people will see how the shrubs and herbs grow in harmony with rocks and hills. But, the plants here are of not only ornamental value, but also medicinal value. As a country boasting herb medicine, China has a profound history of using plants to treat illness. In the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, you can see many traditional medicinal herbs such as salvia, motherwort, schisandra and ptunella spike. What’s more, through the guide’s explanation, you will learn how certain plants, such as lavender, rosemary and mint, are used to treat illness by their fragrance. And other plants like daylily and sea-buckthorn can be eaten, so as to improve the human metabolism.

This conservatory is located at the northeastern corner of the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. It is the largest exhibition conservatory across Asia. It is divided into the Tropical Flower & Fruit Area, the Rare Plants Area and the Desert Plants Area.

In the Tropical Flower & Fruit Area, tourists will be greeted by the lush plantain plants and curcuma plants. There is also a garden of Mediterranean style, and the jumbo palm from Madagascar and other tropical fruit trees.

The Rare Plants Area is truly eye-opening because you will be surprised at how tropical plants survive and evolve in the wild. Tourists will feel like walking in a real tropical rainforest upon seeing banyan trees, carnivorous plants, ferns, cycad plants, and so on. Remember not to touch them because some plants are toxic.

Desert Plants Area brings you a different vibe. Here, cactuses and succulent plants will let you know how they fight against drought by absorbing and storing water. Also, mind the thorns on them.

Once coming here, you will find that the ornamental grasses are as colorful as flowers. Apart from the green one, other blue, white, golden and scarlet grasses will broaden your horizon. The shape of the grass is also worth noticing. Some look like a feather and some look like the tail of the wolf. Summer and autumn are the best seasons to visit here. With the gentle breeze blowing, the rustling of the grass and the floating catkins can significantly make you relax.

Unlike the rectangular gardens designed by Chinese, the North American Plant Zone, in compliance with the Western style, has the characteristic trapezoid layout. A different visual experience is also given through the presence of oaks, maples, walnuts, cedars, yews and other plants which are native to North America.

In this area, children can have fun and acquire knowledge at the same time. The tree house, trampoline, jungle gym, suspension bridge and other facilities can guide them through numerous plant communities like trees, shrubs, herbs and vines. The introduction of each plant is written on the sign so that parents can teach their kids without difficulty.

Blind Garden can be the most heartwarming area in the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden. In order to let visually impaired people equally enjoy the beauty of nature, this area specially selects those fragrant, colorful and differently shaped plants for them to smell, see and touch. Tourists with color weakness can see the gorgeous azalea and maple. For those who have completely lost their sight, they can still smell the osmanthus, gardenia, rosemary, lavender, mint and sweet basil. What’s more, they can feel the difference of every leave, branch, petal, fruit and trunk through touching plantain, canna, willow, bamboo, loquat, sunflower, crape myrtle, pine, and so on.

Other interesting theme gardens include the Aquatic Garden, the Climber Garden, the Spring Garden, the Osmanthus Garden, the Vegetable Garden, the Fuel Plants Garden, the Fiber Plants Garden, the Dye Garden, the Maple Tree Garden and the Iris Garden.

​ Peony Flower Show: January
​ Tulip Flower Show: February
​ International Orchid Show: April
​ Rose Show: May
​ Midsummer Flower Show: June
​ Waterlily Show: August and September
​ Sunflower Show: September and October
 Autumn Flower & Fruit Show: October

1. Take Metro Line 9 and get off at the Dongjing Station from the Exit 3. Transfer to the city bus Songjiang 19 or Songjiang 96, and get off at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden stop. Walk north for 300m (330yd) to the Gate 1 of the botanical garden.

2. Take the city bus Songjiang 96 or Songzhu Line, and get off at the Shenzhuan Road Shetiankun Road stop. Walk south for 700m (770yd) to the Gate 2 of the botanical garden.

3. Take the city bus Songjiang 95 and get off at the Chenta Road Shenzhuan Road stop. Walk south for 800m (870yd) to the Gate 3 of the botanical garden.
 

Opening Hours	Chenshan Botanical Garden: Mar. to Oct.: 8:00-17:30; Nov. to next Feb.: 8:00-17:00;
	Tropical Plants Conservatory: Mar. to Oct.: 8:30-17:00; Nov. to next Feb.: 8:00-16:30.
Ticket Fare	CNY60 per adult; CNY30 per child from 6 to 18 years old (excluding 6 and including 18); Free for children shorter than or equal to 1.3m (4.3ft), or of age 6 years and younger.
Internal Traffic Cost	Battery Car & Mini Train: CNY10 per person with duration of 30min; Battery Boat for 4 people: CNY40 per hour per ship; Battery Boat for 6 people: CNY60 per hour per ship.