Three Days and Two Nights Aren’t Enough—This Grand Garden in Xiangtan Lets You Feed Peacocks and Stay in RVs, So Much Fun

When blue-and-white high-speed trains glide like giant dragons along the north-south rail lines, transportation becomes increasingly convenient, transforming people’s travel habits and even their lifestyles. A spontaneous weekend trip becomes easily achievable. Last weekend, I took Yuanbao to Panlong Grand Garden in Xiangtan. Waking up in our home in Shanghai in the morning, by afternoon we were already running wild among the green hills and clear waters of Panlong Grand Garden. The Grand Garden from *Dream of the Red Chamber* was no stranger to me from books and various film adaptations, but the real-life Panlong Grand Garden in Xiangtan turned out to be unexpectedly fun. It is hailed as “a kingdom of rare plants, a paradise for wildlife, and an oasis of harmony between heaven and humanity.” Here you can admire flowers, enjoy entertainment, savor unique cuisine, and experience special accommodations. Three days and two nights flew by, and Yuanbao had so much fun that he didn’t want to go home. We spent a delightful and meaningful parent-child weekend together.

Panlong Grand Garden is located at No. 195 Furong Avenue, Yuetang District, Xiangtan City, about 15 to 30 minutes by car from downtown Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, and about 20 minutes from Xiangtan Railway Station. I took a high-speed train from Shanghai to Changsha South, then took a taxi to the scenic area, which took about 45 minutes. The scenic area is huge, and visitors can use the electric shuttle buses to get around; the main attractions have shuttle stops.

Accommodation is an important aspect of traveling with children. Panlong Grand Garden is very family-friendly in that it offers many accommodation options. There is the affordable and clean Wisteria Hotel, as well as fairytale log cabins that feel like stepping into *Alice in Wonderland*.

For larger groups, there are forest villas like He Yuan and Lan Yuan.

In addition, the scenic area has spent a large sum to purchase a real train and transform it into a “Train Inn.”

There is also an RV Courtyard, where we stayed during this trip.

The RVs are spacious and equipped with mahjong and cards, accommodating a family of four. Each RV has a private yard with a different style. This was the first time Yuanbao and I stayed in an RV—comfortable and novel, as if we could set off on a poetic journey at any moment.

Panlong Grand Garden covers over 11,600 mu (about 1,900 acres). It is truly enormous. We had planned three days and two nights. After checking into the RV Courtyard, we headed straight to the Zhisakura Go-Kart track. It is probably the most romantic go-kart track in China, especially when viewed from above: the cherry blossoms in full bloom, the pink-purple flower sea merging with the track—a perfect blend of softness and strength.

Many visitors are drawn by its stunning looks and want to try go-karting. I was one of them. The go-karts are simple to operate; as long as you control the speed and direction, even a beginner can enjoy the thrill of speed. Double-seat go-karts allow you to ride with your child. I took Yuanbao along, and we experienced the speed and passion in the sea of flowers.

The scenic area has many special amusements. The Scream Park is more suitable for adults and older children, with attractions like the Extreme Rocket Bungee that shoots you over 30 meters high in two seconds, the Space Shuttle that gives you a taste of flying into outer space, and the 360-degree rotating Swinging Chair.

There are also milder rides, such as a double-decker carousel and a pirate ship.

Yuanbao rode the double-decker carousel. When the music started, it felt like a prince and princess fairytale was about to unfold.

Next, we rode the roller coaster, which required an adult to accompany. The thrill level was like June weather—sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy—both gentle and exciting.

The pirate ship was beautifully designed. Riding it felt like setting sail with a handsome captain. Yuanbao giggled nonstop while on the pirate ship. Scared? Not at all. An older auntie said she felt a bit dizzy after getting off, but Yuanbao excitedly went for a second round without a break.

Next to the Scream Park is Dinosaur Park, a favorite for boys who love dinosaurs. Here you can find familiar ones like Triceratops, Pterosaurs, and Heterodontosaurus, as well as ones I didn’t know but learned about on-site, such as Amargasaurus and Yongchuanosaurus. All the dinosaurs are lifelike and make roaring sounds, making you feel like you’ve entered the ancient Jurassic period.

Ocean Fairyland is a favorite for five-year-olds like Yuanbao. With a blue ocean theme, it includes an outdoor Ocean Kingdom and a semi-indoor Fairy Tale Kingdom. It is an experiential early childhood area that combines puzzles, games, play, and interaction.

The semi-indoor Fairy Tale Kingdom is unaffected by weather and offers many rides, such as a carousel, mini train, bumper cars, a small Ferris wheel, and so on.

This is also where the children laughed the most. Yuanbao and a new friend named Zhouzhou played on every ride one by one.

Yuanbao’s favorite was the Bubble Ball Arena, which opens every half hour. You know how crazy kids get once they go in—it’s as if thousands of bubble balls are flying before their eyes.

The outdoor Ocean Kingdom fully satisfies children’s active and curious nature, with wave slides, kelp and cod climbing structures, hill climbing nets, sand diggers, ocean rocking chairs, and more. They are cute, fun, and lively. Just this Ocean Fairyland area alone can keep children hopping and playing for an entire day.

Bird’s Whispering Forest & Swan Lake

Bird’s Whispering Forest is located below the Bahe Tower in the scenic area, surrounded by lush greenery and forests. It is divided into a Cute Pet Animal Area, a Rare Bird Area, and a Performance Area. The park is home to over 60 species of rare animals, including alpacas, ostriches, peacocks, parrots, and square pigeons.

Yuanbao’s favorite activities were feeding the pigeons and the peacocks. We bought a pack of special feed sold at the scenic area. Sprinkling a little, the pigeons immediately flocked over, more and more of them. They strutted on the ground and fluttered their wings. Yuanbao was surrounded by white and gray pigeons, reminding me of the beautiful time I had on the Ganges, also surrounded by flocks of pigeons.

After feeding the pigeons, we fed the peacocks. We were lucky to see a peacock display its tail feathers. A peacock with its tail spread indeed has the air of the “king of birds”—beautiful and noble.

It is worth mentioning that the peacocks in Bird’s Whispering Forest are not caged but freely stroll on the grass, allowing children to observe their habits more directly and gain a better understanding of harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.

In addition to the close encounters with animals in Bird’s Whispering Forest, the scenic area’s Swan Lake is home to over 20 species of rare wildlife, including white swans, black swans, and mandarin ducks. Most of them gather in a specially built “villa area” in the center of the lake. Visitors can also buy special feed to feed the swans in the designated feeding area.

Panlong Grand Garden has various flowers blooming all year round. There are ten themed gardens: Azalea Garden, Cherry Blossom Garden, Lotus Garden, Orchid Garden, Camellia Garden, Bonsai Garden, Vegetable Expo Garden, Farming Garden, Wisteria Garden, and Yanghe Garden. During this visit, we could see orchids, azaleas, cherry blossoms, and wisteria.

So Yuanbao and I took the opportunity to enjoy the spring flowers. First, we went to the Orchid Garden. Confucius once said, “The orchid grows in a secluded valley.” Orchids have been called the “gentlemen among flowers” since ancient times, admired by literati and painters throughout history. This is probably because orchids have a simple and elegant appearance, a subtle fragrance, and a temperament of “clear color, clear air, clear spirit, and clear charm.”

Next, we went to the Azalea Garden, covering over 100 mu. It boasts three “mosts”: the largest indoor-scale in the country, the largest number of azaleas in the world, and the most complete variety of azaleas in the world.

Walking inside, we felt as if we were in a sea of azaleas. Among them were the Japanese Azalea King, cultivated over eight generations, and ancient stump azaleas that have crossed a thousand years just to meet you. Some azaleas are said to be worth millions, truly deserving the name “Villa Azaleas.”

Holding a balloon and posing for photos in the azalea sea, Yuanbao was backed by a scenery worth millions.

When we arrived at the Cherry Blossom Garden, perhaps because the weather had been warm lately, the cherry blossoms were near the end of their bloom. Still, there were beauties wearing Hanfu and holding oil-paper umbrellas, gracefully moving among the flowers, trying to catch the last traces of cherry blossom season.

Hunan Pavilion & Science and Technology Museum

The scenic area has several cultural attractions. Due to limited time, we only visited the representative Hunan Pavilion, which won the special prize at the Beijing World Horticultural Expo.

As we walked in, the water curtains and mist rising from the eaves gave a fairy-tale atmosphere. Outside the Hunan Pavilion, the words “Only Chu has talents, and this place is the most prosperous” (a quote from the couplet at Yuelu Academy) evoked the rich humanistic essence of Hunan.

At the Science and Technology Museum, we watched a dome-screen movie. The museum’s exterior resembles a UFO. The movie, “Across Africa,” used virtual reality technology to make us feel like we were on an immersive adventure journey following the screen.

The scenic area offers a variety of cuisines, from fast food to stir-fried dishes, and an outdoor Zhisakura BBQ area where visitors can grill their own food. On a summer night, barbecuing and chatting under the stars is definitely one of life’s pleasures.

Yuanbao’s favorite meal was the “DIY Lunch” at Happy Farm. Happy Farm provides large stoves where visitors can light fires, wash vegetables, and cook. Many families with children choose to cook for themselves, letting the kids participate.

Yuanbao and Zhouzhou enthusiastically washed the vegetables with serious expressions. After washing, they excitedly added firewood and lit the stove, working together to truly contribute to the meal. This rare “big pot meal” had special meaning for me.

I didn’t expect that even three days and two nights would only scratch the surface of Panlong Grand Garden. But Yuanbao and I still had a wonderful weekend, full of unexpected surprises. Yuanbao grew a little more during the trip, adding a special chapter to our parent-child travel memories.