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Hongfa Temple (弘法寺), is a Buddhist temple located in Bao'an District of Shenzhen city, south China's Guangdong province.

Fairylake Botanical Garden

In its own language: 仙湖植物园

A vast botanical garden at the foot of Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen, China

Photo: Huangdan2060, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fairylake Botanical Garden is a 1,349-acre botanical garden and arboretum in Shenzhen, China, beside Wutong Mountain and Shenzhen Reservoir. It features themed gardens, a large collection of over 8,000 plant species, a man-made lake, and the Hongfa Temple, welcoming visitors year-round.

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  • Home to over 8,000 plant species and 17 themed gardens
  • Hosts the National Cycad Conservation Center with 240 cycad species
  • Includes the Hongfa Temple, a Buddhist temple within the grounds
  • Covers more than 1,300 acres at the foot of Wutong Mountain
  • Open all year and welcomes about 2 million visitors annually

What is Fairylake Botanical Garden?

Fairylake Botanical Garden covers over 1,300 acres at the base of Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen. Visitors find a mix of themed plant gardens, including collections for cycads, magnolias, palms, bamboos, desert plants, aquatic plants, and bonsai. The grounds include a man-made lake with bridges and pavilions, and the Hongfa Temple, a Buddhist temple, stands within the garden. The garden is open all year and serves as a place for plant research, education, and leisure.

The history of Fairylake Botanical Garden

The garden was established by the Shenzhen government in 1983 and opened to the public in 1988. It was created to combine scientific research, popular science education, and tourism. Over time, it has grown to house more than 8,000 plant species and over 17 special living plant collections. In 2012, the National Cycad Conservation Center was founded here, making it one of the leading cycad collections worldwide. The garden has been recognized as a national AAAA tourist site and a national key park.

What there is to see

The garden is divided into more than twelve themed areas, each focusing on a different group of plants or habitat. These include gardens for cycads, magnolias, rare trees, palms, bamboos, shade-loving plants, desert plants, fruit trees, aquatic plants, peaches, gymnosperms, and bonsai. Scenic areas such as the Fairylake, Heaven & Earth, Desert Plant, Fossil Forest, and Conifers Azalea areas offer varied landscapes. Paths, bridges, and pavilions connect these spaces.

When to go

Fairylake Botanical Garden is open to visitors throughout the year. It attracts tourists, plant enthusiasts, and researchers, with about two million visitors annually. The garden is also used for scientific study and plant conservation. The Hongfa Temple within the grounds draws those interested in Buddhist culture. The garden's climate is subtropical, making it suitable for a wide range of plant species.

Parts and collections

The garden features more than 17 special plant collections, with a notable focus on cycads, housing 240 species from 3 families and 10 genera. Other themed gardens include those for magnolias, rare trees, palms, bamboos, desert and aquatic plants, and bonsai. Each area highlights different plant types and growing conditions.

Why Fairylake Botanical Garden matters

Fairylake Botanical Garden is recognized as a major tourist destination and a key park in China. Its Hongfa Temple is an important Buddhist site within Shenzhen. The garden plays a role in plant conservation and education, especially through its world-ranked cycad collection. It is a place for leisure, learning, and cultural visits in the region.

Questions people ask about Fairylake Botanical Garden

Where is Fairylake Botanical Garden located?

Fairylake Botanical Garden is in Liantang Subdistrict, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, at the base of Wutong Mountain and beside the Shenzhen Reservoir.

What can visitors see at Fairylake Botanical Garden?

Visitors can explore themed gardens such as the Cycad Conservation Center, Magnolia Garden, Bamboo Garden, Desert Plant Garden, and more. There is also a man-made lake, scenic areas, and the Hongfa Temple within the grounds.

When was Fairylake Botanical Garden founded?

The garden was founded in 1983 by the Shenzhen government and opened to the public in 1988.

What is special about the plant collections at Fairylake Botanical Garden?

The garden has more than 8,000 plant species and over 17 special collections, including one of the world's leading cycad collections with 240 species.

Is Fairylake Botanical Garden open year-round?

Yes, the garden is open all year, making it accessible in every season for visitors.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Fairy Lake Botanical Garden", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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