[New Yunnan Notes] Visiting Kunming Botanical Garden: A Romantic Date with Nature

Number of days: 4 days
Time: February
Updated: 2025.04.01

[New Yunnan Notes] Visiting the Kunming Botanical Garden: A Romantic Date with Nature

The Yunnan Military Academy has now become part of Green Lake Park. Just across the street from Green Lake Park is the Academy. It was crowded, but since I'd been there 10 years ago, I hadn't made a reservation.

It was noon, and as I stood at the entrance of the Academy, eagerly anticipating the journey to the Kunming Botanical Garden, I realized the distance was immense. Unsure of directions, I had no choice but to take a taxi. After over half an hour of navigating the city streets, we finally arrived at our destination. As soon as I got off the bus, I couldn't help but exclaim, "That's so far!"

Entering the Kunming Botanical Garden, I was instantly struck by its grandeur. Divided into two sections, East and West, the garden boasts 15 meticulously designed specialized gardens (areas), including the Camellia Garden, the Rock Garden, the Bamboo Garden (a waterscape dominated by bamboo, brimming with vibrant beauty), the Yu-Sai Azalea Garden, the Foliage and Fruit Garden, the Herb Garden, the Magnolia Garden, the Witch Hazel Garden, the Garden of Extremely Small Species Plants, the Gymnosperm Garden, and more. Each one feels like a treasure trove of nature's mysteries.

Tall bamboos stand upright, gracefully swaying in the breeze, like loyal soldiers quietly guarding this botanical kingdom. Strolling through the garden, a dazzling array of plants greeted me, filling me with wonder and delight.

Following the main path, I entered the gymnosperm garden. My eyes widened as I stared at the many trees I had never seen before. The collection is truly rich; I doubt many botanical gardens could offer such a comprehensive and concentrated display of gymnosperms.

Walking into the magnolia garden, several light red magnolia flowers are in full bloom. They sway gently in the breeze, like fairies in pink dance dresses, dancing gracefully and emitting charming fragrance.

What a big sweetgum tree

Speaking of black truffle, it is one of the cultural symbols highly recognized by both China and the West. History reveals its presence as early as the Roman period in the 20th century BC. For centuries, it has been a delicacy on the tables of European nobility and royalty. Black truffles are extremely picky about their growing environment. They coexist naturally with plants and have extremely high soil requirements. Containing truffle polysaccharides and repair factors, they possess a powerful ability to heal damaged tissue, earning them the nickname "the gecko of the biological world." Yunnan is a major producer of black truffles in China, primarily in eastern, western, and southeastern Yunnan. Annual production reaches nearly 300 tons, accounting for over 60% of China's total production! Entering the exhibition halls of the Alpine Truffle Museum is like stepping into a time tunnel of nature. Here, the growth process of the black truffle is clearly visible, with every detail beautifully captured. The entire exhibition hall integrates education, exhibitions, experiences, and interactive activities. From a unique museum perspective, it draws attention to the vibrant symbiotic relationships between fungi, plants, and humans. It allows us to understand the world, living organisms, and even human skin cells with a scientific approach, showcasing the beauty of nature and humanity in innovative ways. The "Fu Li Palace" boasts a remarkable history: it is the world's earliest documented greenhouse. Its name derives from the Han Dynasty imperial greenhouse, built within the Shanglin Garden during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han and dedicated to cultivating southern fruits and exotic flowers and trees. The Kunming Botanical Garden's greenhouse complex, a key project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences during its Seventh Five-Year Plan, was completed and put into use in 1986. Renowned botanist Academician Wu Zhengyi borrowed this allusion to name the Kunming Botanical Garden's greenhouse complex "Fu Li Palace." After years of meticulous construction, the "Fuli Palace" now preserves more than 2,500 species of characteristic plants, becoming a unique modern exhibition greenhouse group at home and abroad. It is also an important platform for species conservation, scientific research and observation, knowledge dissemination and environmental education.

In the "Fuli Palace", the most eye-catching part is undoubtedly the main greenhouse. The scene is simply magnificent. The greenhouse covers an area of 4,200 square meters and is divided into tropical aquatic, tropical fruit, tropical rainforest, and tropical desert zones. Curious, I asked the security guard if I could go inside. He told me I needed to buy a separate ticket (80 yuan for adults, 40 yuan for students) and that I needed to join a guided tour. Tours require advance reservations (either online or in person). I wondered if the plants here might be similar to those at the Guangzhou South China Botanical Garden, but with so many more plants and flowers waiting to be seen ahead, I gave up the idea of going inside. There are several beautiful plum trees outside, with graceful postures.

There are several beautiful plum trees outside, with graceful postures.

Celebrity Tree Planting Area

Baicao Garden, named after the story of "Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs", was built in 1979. It is a specialized garden dedicated to collecting, conserving and displaying the unique medicinal plant resources of southwest my country. The 45-mu (approximately 1,000 mu) garden boasts a collection of over 1,000 important medicinal plants, including Panax notoginseng, Fritillaria davidiana, and Rhizoma Chuanxiong, representing 171 families and 592 genera. The entire garden is meticulously designed according to the traditional Chinese garden layout. Winding paths, rest corridors, and landscaped ponds cleverly divide the garden into over ten unique medicinal plant planting areas, including Shennong's Herbal Medicine, Southern Yunnan Herbal Medicine, Traditional Medicinal Plants, Aromatic Medicinal Plants, and Paeonia lactiflora. The tranquil and elegant environment offers a rich scientific and cultural experience, making it an ideal destination for research observation, teaching practice, disseminating knowledge about medicinal botany, and simply relaxing. However, at this time of year, the number of plants in bloom in the Baicao Garden is somewhat disappointing.

While walking, I stumbled upon the flowers in full bloom in the botanical garden. Even in front of the restroom, several cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The tender pink petals sparkled in the sunlight, adding a unique touch of vitality to this tranquil botanical garden. (Figure 31-23~28)

Roadside snapshot

Kunming Botanical Garden is not only a treasure trove showcasing plant diversity, but also a place where the soul can rest and we can get close to nature. In this vibrant and energetic natural paradise, if you have the time to savor it slowly, you can truly learn a lot about plants and truly experience the unparalleled charm and tranquility of nature. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Kunming, you must not miss this beautiful place. I believe you will also create unforgettable memories of your natural journey here. However, since I didn't see the entire botanical garden, I feel that the variety of plants and flowers is not as good as the South China National Botanical Garden in Guangzhou.