Chenshan Botanical Garden

Overview

Chenshan Botanical Garden is a 207-hectare garden and research center in Songjiang district, featuring over 9,000 plant species from around the world. Built around a small hill (Chenshan), it combines world-class botanical collections with landscape architecture.

Highlights

• Mineral Garden: A sunken garden built into an abandoned quarry, with waterfalls cascading down exposed rock faces.
• Orchid Hall: One of the largest orchid conservatories in China, housing over 1,000 species.
• Cherry Blossom Avenue: Over 1,200 cherry trees bloom in a spectacular display each spring.

History

Opened in 2011, the garden was designed by German landscape architects Valentien + Valentien. The quarry garden, designed as a "Sunken Garden," won the ASLA Honor Award in 2012.

Visitor Tips

• Spring Visit: Late March to mid-April for cherry blossoms and peony season.
• Full Day: The garden is enormous; rent a golf cart to cover more ground.
• Duration: 2.5–3 hours.