Nanjing Locals See Nanjing – The Tropical Plant Palace at Zhongshan Botanical Garden

A few years ago, while walking along the city wall, I came across a clear lake at a bend—Qianhu Lake. In the foreground, Qianhu Lake; in the distance, the rolling Zhongshan Mountain range. The picture of undulating mountains, layered greenery, and shimmering lake water was a perfect blend of motion and stillness. Among the trees between the lake and the mountain, a few gleaming shell-like buildings caught my eye. Curious, I checked the map and realized they were the flower greenhouses of Zhongshan Botanical Garden. That's when I learned the garden had expanded. Those distinctive buildings on the north side of Qianhu Lake began construction in 1999 and opened to the public as the South Garden on National Day in 2007. When my child was little, the botanical garden was a regular haunt of ours. A classmate's mother worked there, so we'd often bring the kids to play in what's now called the North Garden. There was no South Garden back then. As my child grew up, we stopped visiting. If I hadn't glimpsed it from the city wall, I wouldn't have known about the new addition. I thought I'd go check it out sometime. But time slips away unnoticed. With that thought, another couple of years passed.

On an afternoon during this year's Qingming holiday, I finally visited the garden. After admiring the tulips in full bloom, I followed the scenic path and signs towards the Tropical Plant Palace.

Actually, there was no need for signs—the building is so large and distinctive that its graceful silhouette can be seen from any corner of the garden.

April turns the botanical garden into a world of tulips. Right at the entrance, vast expanses of colorful tulips greet you; on the hills, a fiery patch blazes; around a tree, a carpet of tulips spreads; along the lake, they flutter in the breeze; beside the paths, they form a beautiful long scroll; and dotted among other greenery, they add splashes of color.

The plaza north of the Tropical Plant Palace was a riot of color. Low-growing tulips, cherry blossoms in full bloom, shrubs, and trees created rich, layered scenery.

Accompanied by floral shadows and fragrance, I arrived at the building. On the square, a family was happily jumping rope together.

Entering the palace, one side was decorated with clusters of flowers in full bloom.

The plant displays in the atrium were well-layered and richly diverse.

An introductory plaque explains that the Tropical Plant Palace is divided into three main exhibition areas, featuring over 2,000 rare plant species. The themes are 'Plant Wonders' and 'Plants and Humans'.

I first visited the tropical rainforest section on the right.

Since tropical plants are tall and lush, this greenhouse has high ceilings to accommodate their growth.

A winding path led us through. Every inch, both horizontally and vertically, was packed with tropical plants.

Even the artificial hillocks were covered with vegetation, and a small bamboo pavilion offered rest.

In the water feature, red-tailed fish swayed gracefully.

Wandering here, it feels a bit surreal to experience tropical rainforest wonders in a city like Nanjing. With abundant sunshine and rain, the plants grow wildly, their thick roots seeming to descend from the sky, stretching beyond sight.

The common 'strangler fig' phenomenon is on display. Vines hang and twine, creating a hanging garden.

The glasshouse creates an artificial rainforest with temperatures suitable for tropical plants. But compared to a real rainforest, the humidity is far lower. To truly experience a rainforest—the damp heat, the drenching moisture—you must visit a natural one. Still, having a place like this in Nanjing to get a sneak peek at rainforest plants is a real treat.

Leaving the rainforest section, I returned to the lobby and went upstairs. The second floor was hosting a lotus exhibition. Large vats held lotuses, but mostly just leaves. Now this space is more about orchids.

Orchids of every color smiled at us.

A beautiful array of vibrant colors.

Looking down from the second floor at the atrium displays.

Leaving the orchid show, I entered the tropical economic plant area.

Brilliant tropical flowers alongside towering royal palms and swaying betel palms exuded tropical charm.

The glasshouse nearest the lake is the charming succulent and cactus garden. Plants here are adapted to arid and semi-arid tropical regions, and the temperature inside was noticeably higher than in the other two areas.

Cacti family plants are wonderfully diverse: spherical, stick-like, columnar, paddle-shaped...

The giant cacti drew many visitors for photo ops.

This cute cactus is called 'Golden Glow' because it produces yellow flowers, hence the name.

Such a wealth of shapes!

Such tall cactus columns.

The flowers were delicate and vivid.

The cacti were in bloom.

Every inch of the glasshouse was used. The sheer variety dazzled my eyes—I'm a total plant illiterate, so I could only enjoy the spectacle.

This area's plants are rich, beautiful, and magical.

Wandering through the huge, airy glasshouses of the Tropical Plant Palace, I experienced tropical rainforests, economic plants, and arid-region succulents. This artificial tropical paradise gathers diverse tropical plants together, allowing us in Nanjing to appreciate their many forms. It's simply wonderful.

I left the glasshouses, felt the cool breeze from Qianhu Lake, and strolled toward the Crescent Embankment, continuing to enjoy the beauty of nature in the botanical garden.