Exploring the Green Pearl Botanical Garden

Today, let's step into a green treasure hidden on the Tropic of Cancer—the Jingdong Tropical Botanical Garden! 📍Located in Jinping Town, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, nestled between the Wuliang Mountains and Ailao Mountains, situated in the subtropical heartland of the Lancang River basin at an altitude of about 1,200 meters, it is one of China’s highest and best-preserved subtropical botanical gardens🌿🌞. Known as the "Green Pearl on the Earth's Latitude Belt," it covers nearly 3,000 acres and houses over 5,000 rare plant species: the towering Wangtian trees reach the sky, ancient tea trees with gnarled roots, dragon blood trees standing like ancient guardians by the roadside, and epiphytic orchids and ferns layered in the sky garden🌸🪴. In spring and summer, the cyatheas sway gently in the wind, as if traveling back to the Jurassic period; on autumn mornings, mist fills the valleys, and sunlight filters through the leaves casting golden beams, creating a fairyland🌅. What’s more special is that it’s almost free of crowds, accompanied only by birdsong, streams, and the sound of the wind. The trails wind along the mountain terrain, and every step feels like flipping through a living botanical encyclopedia📖💚. Itinerary: 2 days 1 night | Plant identification + ecological photography + stay in a mountain guesthouse + explore the secret of Ailao Mountains Total budget: under 800 RMB (about 760 RMB per person) Transportation｜¥340 - Bus from Kunming South Bus Station to Jingdong County ¥180 (about 6 hours) - Taxi round trip between county town and botanical garden ¥160 (about 40 minutes one way, carpooling possible) Admission｜¥40 ✅ Botanical garden ticket ¥40/person (half price for students | includes basic guide map) Accommodation｜¥200 ✅ Comfortable standard room in Jingdong county town hotel ¥100/night × 2 nights = ¥200 (includes breakfast | hot water available) Meals｜¥180 Day 1 lunch: Sour bamboo shoot chicken + stir-fried wild vegetables + rice ¥40 Day 1 dinner: Grilled fish + tofu with mushrooms + taro rice ¥50 Day 2 breakfast: Rice noodles + steamed bun with soy milk ¥15 × 2 days = ¥30 Day 2 lunch: Self-heating meal or simple meal ¥30 - Supplies: bottled water ¥10 | fruit ¥20 Highlights｜Be a nature observer! ✅ Enter the garden in the morning, check in at the "Banyan King," "Thousand-year Crape Myrtle," and "Sky Garden" 📸🌳 ✅ Join the free guided tours in the park (daily at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM) ✅ Hike the surrounding ecological trails in the afternoon, photographing insects and orchids up close ✅ Enjoy the sunset over the Ailao Mountains on the way back to town, feeling the earth breathe🌄 ✅ Total cost breakdown: Transportation ¥340 + Admission ¥40 + Accommodation ¥200 + Meals ¥180 = ¥760 Best seasons: March–May | September–November (dry season | less rain | plants in best condition) Essentials: sunscreen, mosquito repellent, binoculars, camera, notebook, cash - Hidden gems: On the way, you can visit Azalea Lake or the outer trails of the Ailao Mountain Ecological Station! When I touched the bark of that thousand-year-old tree, I seemed to hear the heartbeat of the earth, slowly echoing in the silence.