Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Travel Guide for Parents and Kids
Xishuangbanna is a kingdom of biodiversity. Visiting the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences with your children is an essential part of your trip to Xishuangbanna.
This is the largest botanical garden in China, with the most diverse collection of species and the most specialized gardens. It is definitely worth a special trip.
The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is vast, so here is a guide on how to explore it with your kids.
🧡【Preparation Before the Trip】:
- Clothing: Prepare lightweight and breathable summer clothes, and bring a light jacket for the temperature difference between morning and evening.
- Sun protection: Bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect your child's delicate skin.
- Mosquito repellent: Bring mosquito repellent and floral water to prevent mosquito bites.
🚌【Transportation Guide】
- Taxi: A taxi from the city center costs about 200 RMB one way and takes about an hour.
- Bus: Take a bus from the Banna Passenger Station to the botanical garden, the fare is 23 RMB per person, and it takes about an hour.
- Direct Shuttle: You can choose the "Banna Safe Travel" direct shuttle from Gaozhuang or Water Splashing Square to the botanical garden, with multiple options available.
- Car Rental: Renting a car from Gaozhuang for a round trip costs about 500 RMB. If the night tour ends late, renting a car is more convenient.
💴【Ticket Prices and Garden Introduction】
- Tickets: West Zone tickets are 80 RMB, free for children under 1.2 meters.
- Garden: The garden is divided into the East Zone and the West Zone. The East Zone is a primeval rainforest, while the West Zone is like an encyclopedia of tropical plants with various specialized gardens. For a limited time, prioritize the West Zone. There are electric carts available for transportation, which is suitable for families with children.
⛺【Recommended Photo Spots】
- Bamboo Bridge: Take photos on the bamboo bridge extending into the water for stunning pictures.
- Big Tree: Climb the tree roots next to the bamboo bridge for a dramatic scene.
- Deadwood: Sit on the horizontal deadwood by the water with an ice cream as a prop for a unique photo.
- Palm Forest: Capture candid shots of running on the lawn under the palm trees, like a princess on the run.
⛺【Activities】
- Day Tour: Enter through the West Gate, take the electric cart, visit the Shade Garden (like Alice's Green Wonderland), the Aquatic Garden (Victoria Lily Pond, experience sitting on the Victoria Lily in July-August, weight limit 50kg, 60 RMB for under 40kg, 100 RMB for 40-50kg), Palm Garden, Banyan Garden (single tree forest), Exotic Flower Garden (with dancing grass and other magical plants), Hundred Flower Garden (with the Lonely Tree, hot air balloons, flower sea), Celebrity Tree Garden, Fruit Garden, Vine Garden, and exit through the West Gate.
- Night Tour: Keep the day ticket to join the night tour around 8 PM, which requires a reservation and costs 80 RMB per person. You can see fireflies, stick insects, and hear the calls of owls.
- In-depth Study Tour: Discover magical animals, learn while touring, and make water lanterns.
Parent-Child Interactive Experience
- Make a Plant Specimen Book: Collect plant leaves and make a specimen book to record beautiful memories.
- Participate in Science Lectures: Listen to professional guides introduce plant knowledge to broaden your horizons.
- Observe Insects and Small Animals: During the night tour, guide children to observe various insects to stimulate their curiosity.
Avoid Rushed Visits
- Plan Ahead: Understand the layout and features of each garden area in advance, and plan a detailed route based on your child's interests and age. For example, if they are interested in insects, focus on the Exotic Flower Garden and night tour route.
- Task-Driven: Assign interesting tasks to your child, such as finding specific plants, observing plant growth environments, and recording different plant characteristics, to give them clear goals and tasks during the visit.
- In-Depth Observation: Spend enough time in each garden area, guide your child to observe the details of plant shapes, colors, and textures, encourage them to touch and smell the plants, and not just take photos and leave quickly.
These activities are available in the botanical garden's study programs, led by the garden's study guides, with a required number of participants and advance reservations.
👉【Itinerary】
Select top teachers, led by senior study guides in the botanical garden, to explore the tropical plant kingdom, walk in the rainforest, and learn about tropical flora and fauna.
Half-Day Study + Night Tour Itinerary:
13:30 Gather at the main gate of Gaozhuang and depart for the botanical garden.
14:30 Arrive at the botanical garden, enter with ID cards, and meet the senior study guide.
Start the study tour with an ice-breaking session.
Course 1: Learn while touring.
Course 2: Where are the magical animals?
18:30 Dinner (at a restaurant outside the botanical garden).
19:30 Night tour of the botanical garden.
Course 3: The Charm of Ulan.
20:30 End of activities, return to Gaozhuang.
21:30 Arrive at Gaozhuang, end of the tour.
A good itinerary makes a good trip. If you have time, you can stay longer in the botanical garden.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences