The State Council on May 30 proved a plan to establish the South China National Botanical Garden in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

The national botanical garden will be built and upgraded on the basis of the existing South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), according to an official from the Guangzhou municipal government. SCBG is one of the world's largest south subtropical botanical garden, and Guangdong is one of the regions with the richest plant diversity.

Known as the "Emerald of South China", SCBG has a rare plant conservation center and 38 special gardens including Magnolia, Ginger, Bamboo, Orchid, Palm, and Cycad. It has collected 1.15 million plant specimens, and 17,168 species of ex situ conservation plants, including more than 430 national protected endangered wild plants.

Latest events in SCBG

1. Sunflower Exhibition

Time: Till June 15, 2022

Venue: Greenhouse Area

A total of 300 sunflowers are currently being exhibited in SCBG’s greenhouse area. In addition to the most common sunflower variety—yellow petals and black center, there are also yellow petals with green center, and yellow-brown petals with black center. Each variety is unique and pleasing to the eye.

2. Natural History Drawings Exhibition

Time: Till June 15, 2022

Venue: Greenhouse Area

Do you want to know the "Giant Panda" in plants? Do you want to learn the history of natural history drawings and understand the scientific expression techniques and cautious creative attitude contained in them? Then come and visit this exhibition!

3. Carnivorous Plant Exhibition

Time: Till June 30, 2022

Venue: Tropical Rainforest Room, Greenhouse Area

With the theme "Plant's Counterattack", the exhibition displays more than 60 carnivorous plants, which can catch insects and eat meat, such as pitcher plant, sundew and Venus flytrap.

4. Firefly watching

The best time of year to watch fireflies is from June to August, and the best viewing time is from 19:00 to 21:00 every day.

Tips:

· Fireflies are extremely sensitive to ecological environment, and not all areas have fireflies. At present, fireflies are mainly concentrated at the entrance of the Cycad Garden.

· Visitors can only enter the SCBG before 17:30.

· Fireflies are afraid of light, so please do not use lighting and keep quiet. In addition, visitors must pay attention to safety when viewing fireflies, and do not step into the woodland to avoid being bitten by snakes.

SCBG travel information

Address:

No. 1190, Tianyuan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou;

No. 723, Xingke Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Opening hours: 7:30-17:30

Ticket price: 20 yuan; 50 yuan (including the whole garden and the greenhouse area).

Scan the QR code below to purchase tickets.

Nearest metro station: Take Line 6, get off at the Botanical Garden Station (植物園站), use Exit A, then go west for 370 meters.

Self-driving: Please search "華南植物園西門 (廣州市天河區興科路723號)" on map application and park your car at the West Gate parking lot.