Guangzhou Orchid Garden is just next to the Yuexiu Park and can be reached via a short walk from Yuexiu Park station of line 2. Exit B2.
Note: You can download either Baidu Maps or Amap and navigate through the buttons below. You can also directly order a cab through the App. Learn more in this Guide.
Guangzhou Orchid Garden (广州兰圃)
Not only Guangzhou but China in general are famous for gardens and parks. Arranging plants, rocks, trees and everything surrounding is an art form and mastered to perfection.
Guangzhou Orchid Garden, also known as the Canton Orchid Garden is no exception, and in fact did actually win competitions. This tranquil oasis located near the western entrance to Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou is 100% worth visiting on a sunny day.
Quick History: Originally rebuilt from a botanical garden in 1957, the new garden covers an area of 3.9 hectares.
Location: Prime location near the western entrance of Yuexiu Park or just next to the Yuexiu Congress Center. The Orchid Garden is easily accessible and provides a peaceful retreat from the bustling city.
Flora and Features
Orchids: The garden features more than 200 species of orchids, including varieties such as cattleya, cybidium, dendrobium, oncidium, and vanda. Not that I could distinguish them, but that’s what it says on the plate near the entrance.
Other Plants: In addition to orchids, there are over 300 species of other plants, creating a very interesting garden as you can spot leaves, fruits and flowers that you never saw before. Also some fruits you only know from supermarkets grow there.
Greenhouses: One of the highlights in my opinion are the three greenhouses that house the orchids and other plants, ensuring they thrive in a controlled environment. They took the arrangement of plants as an art project!
Pavilions and Structures: Visitors can explore various pavilions like the Hall of Exquisite Fragrance and the Aromatic Flowers Garden. The garden also features arched stone bridges, willow-fringed pools, and landscaped gardens with ponds, sculptures, and pagodas. All in all very picturesque.
Cultural Significance
Historical Context: The garden is in the same area where once was an old botanical garden, sadly there are not many information on the old garden. The new, and current one, won a international garden price in Germany in 1983 though. To the west of the garden entrance is a religious complex housing a Muslim grave that supposedly marks the burial site of Abu Waqas, who is credited with bringing Islam to China.
Experience
The Guagzhou Orchid Garden lives from the beauty it provides, so we highly recommend to visit either on a sunny day. Two hour walk through endless greenery, ponds with Koi fish and pagodas in the middle of a lake are simply magical. Bad weather would take away all that magic, however I imagine it being a great jungle experience in heavy rain.
Tea Houses: The garden includes quaint tea houses where visitors can relax and enjoy a pot of tea. Even if you do not like Tea normally, trust me in this environment it tastes great.
Opening Hours: The garden is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and it was not overcrowded on a Wednesday after lunch time.
Admission Fee: The entry fee is around 20 to 30 yuan, and includes a voucher for a pot of tea.
