For botanical enthusiasts, there may be yet another reason to visit Guangzhou, as the city is set to open its showcase Yunxi Botanical Garden on August 8, 2024. The 35-hectare nature education center, located in the Baiyunshan Scenic Area (白云山风景名胜区), is organized into five thematic zones, featuring plants that range from tropical to subtropical, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.

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The design of the green oasis embodies the Lingnan garden aesthetic, which blends various earth and water elements, including valleys, streams, gardens, and mountains, into contemporary landscaping.

The park conserves more than 1,300 species of native and rare plants, of which 20 species are nationally recognized as first-level protected plants. Among them is the critically endangered Pachylarnax sinica (华盖木), also known as the "giant panda of the plant world".

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Guangzhou has been dedicated to pioneering the "city-garden integration" concept in recent years. The city has systematically developed a network ranging from national botanical gardens to parks and community green spaces. The development addresses the protection of plant resources as well as the functions of ecological scientific research and education, as pointed out by Wang Rui Jiang, a researcher from the South China National Botanical Garden. 

Translated by China Daily from the original report in Chinese as published on the official website of Xinhua News Agency, with input from news.dayoo.com