Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden

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Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden covers an area of 32 hectares and is a treasure trove of China’s tropical plants and also a microcosm of the world’s tropical plants.There are over one thousand rare tropical plants from morethan 40 countries in Asia，Africa and Latin America growing in the garden.Many visitors at home and abroad come to visit the garden and they all lose themselves in the marvelous scenery here.Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden is located 163 kilometers away from Haikou City，97 kilometers away from Sanya City.It is a famous scenic spot in Hainan Xinglong Hot Spring Tour Zoo.Due to historical reasons，since the early 50s of last century，the farm was set up for the overseas Chinese from more than 20 countries and regions of Southeast Asia.

The South China Sea is on its east，and it is surrounded by mountains.It has abundant sunshine，long summer，humidity，rainfall and no winter.Having a typical tropical monsoon climate，it is suitable for a variety of tropical and subtropical plants’growth and development.Besides，it has unique geographical location and climatic conditions，which is good for collecting and preserving germless resources like the tropical and subtropical crops（plants）.So a thriving tropical botanical garden has been set up.Because of the efforts of two generations of researchers as well as the Institute’s reform model of development”Research，Development，Tourism Trinity”，Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden has collected the unique preservation of more than 1，200 kinds of tropical and subtropical crops（plants）germplasm，and has become a combination of scientific research，production，processing，tourism and germless resources protection.

Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden is divided into five areas:plant viewing area，experiment and demonstration area，science and technology research and development area，three-dimensional planting and breeding area and ecological recreation area.It has a collection of 12 types of plants:tropical spice plants，tropical beverages，tropical fruit，tropical timber economic plants tropical ornamental plants，tropical medicinal plants，palm plants，tropical aquatic plants，endangered tropical plants，exotic tropical plants，tropical sand plants and vegetables.In the botanical garden，it is like an encyclopedia on tropical plants. Walking through the botanical garden, you will get an unforgettable impression.A variety of exotic tropical flowers and trees form a beautiful picture. Surrounded by green mountains, clean water, the ultimate ecological atmosphere and fresh sweet air, it will certainly wash your heart and bring in vitality.

Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden is a bright pearl of Hainan’s tourism. Itis famous for its unique tropical plant resources. There are more than 1,200 plant varieties. The garden has a collection of tropical cash plants resources such as coffee, pepper, vanilla, cocoa, and a collection of plants like durian, mangosteen and so on, and a collection of the finest and rare special fruit trees, woods and horticultural plant species, such living wild plants as upas trees Some rare tropical plant species from home and abroad have been also introduced here, so it is regarded as a comprehensive tropical botanical garden with rich species resources, beautiful landscape, and the functions of scientific research, tourism and protecting plant germplasm resources.

Hainan is well known for both the sheer variety of its tropical crops and fruits as well, which include coconut jackfruit, pineapple, mango, lychee, longan, banana, rambutan, naseberry, durian, papaw, olive, guava fruit, wampee, Chinese gooseberry and so on. The virgin tropical rainforests are also home to more than 4,680 kinds of fascicular plants, of which more than 610 kinds are local species found only on Hainan Island, and 55 kinds are listed as national secondary and tertiary protection plant species. There are more than 3,100 kinds of medicinal plants, of which 13 kinds have anti-cancer effect.

Hainan is full of green plants all year round with an abundant rainfall, which is good for plants to grow, such as rice, cotton, coconuts, palm tree, cinnamon, sisal, tropical fruits, betel nuts, coffee, tea, sugar cane, sweet potato, peanut, tobacco. Hainan is the largest rubber production field in China. In the central part of Hainan Island there is vast of tropical thick forests, and the trees are high. It is the place of origin in China for tropical hardwoods, including teak and sandalwood. Some rare species of trees like eagle-wood, rosewood, liquidambar, etc. provide with the best quality of woods. In ancient times, this kind of woods had been specially transported to Peking for the purpose of building imperial palace only. The coconut palms and evergreen Chinese pines flourishes freely even in the north of the Hainan Island.

The unique natural climate superiority enables the island to cultivate a variety of tropical fruits. Hainan Island has long been the “Mysterious Orchard”in China for Chinese people. At present in Hainan Island altogether there are 61 families,138 genera and 273 species of fruits, of which such fruits as coconut, banana, mango, pineapple, litchi chinensis and so on had already become well known to the people outside Hainan Island long time ago; day by day such other fruits as rambutan, carambola, pitaya, pawpaw, guayava andso forth are getting more and more familiar to the people outside Hainan Island; while for some other kinds of fruits they are still strangers to the people outside Hainan Island like Pbummiflora edulis, sapodilla, the annona squamosa, wax apple, the myrtle, wampee, the package melon and so on. Some of the people even have never heard of them, so these special varieties of fruits are extremely attractive to them.

In recent years, Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden has vigorously developed some special tourism projects: developing tropical plants viewing, fishing and other activities for tourists to have leisure; developing agricultural scientific and technological research activities for professional groups to inspect; developing agricultural science education activities for young people to increase the knowledge of tropical agricultural science and to improve their environmental awareness; developing farming and harvesting activities for tourists to participate in the practice of agricultural activities. Botanical Garden Tours is available all the year round and is suitable for all kinds of people. Ifyou are tired, you can also rest in the park free of charge and have a taste of a variety of drinks produced from the botanical garden.

In 1991, the garden was appointed by China National Tourism Administration tourist spot for tourists all over the world. In 1998, it was elected as one of the favorable scenic spots in China by national authorities such as National Tourist Association and others. In 2002, it was approved by China National Tourism Administration as one of the best tourists’ scenic spots in China, with the title of 4A Spot.