Xianhu Botanical Garden
Xianhu Botanical Garden
4.5
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Also known as Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens, this massive, verdant escape has lots to offer even if you are not a botanical buff. A popular pastime among locals is to rent a boat and explore the lake.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
137 reviews
Excellent
69
Very good
56
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
1
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,581 contributions
Sep 2019
WOW , , , A super large, almost 550 hectare, botanical gardens. There is lots to see. All types and varieties of plant life, set in beautiful displays.
Written May 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susy1Brisbane
Brisbane441 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
xianuh botanical gardens , or fairy lake was established in 1983, and covers almost 600 ha. the chinese call the area paradise on earth, the're not wrong.. every direction is a photographers dream come true. a walk in the fossil forrest you behold a minature jurrasic park of about 500 fossil woods. traveller tip... if you are staying in hk. or kowloon, save time, go with a well known tour company, eg. vitator ,spendid, etc. no visa required ,just take your passport, travel as a group , no hassels.. we had our second trip to shenzen in twelve months, very worth while...
Written March 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anu M
Charlotte, NC112 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Fairy Lake Botanical Garden is a huge park conveniently located near Central Shenzhen. I was able to hop on the 382 bus, which went directly there, however, due to major traffic trying to get into the park, the bus finally allowed us to get off a few blocks prior to reaching there. The bus was absolutely packed in both directions, though, so if the thought of that bothers you, you could easily grab a taxi, instead. After getting off the bus, there were hoardes of people all walking to the park, so it was certainly easy to find. For 15 Yuan, getting into the park was a deal. Because of the crowds, if possible, go on a weekday. I went on a perfect 74 degree and sunny Sunday and it was pretty insane. If you do have to go on a weekend, it’s still worth it, as it’s a huge and varied park and if you want to get away from the crowds, go anywhere that stairs lead you and you can find some privacy!
This park is huge. You can pay a few Yuan and take a bus around the park, which is advised if you don’t want to walk too much or have a disability. When the park is crowded, though, the lines for the bus are immense. I chose to walk the whole park and in about six hours, I saw all of the different parts and walked nearly 12 miles! It is all very walkable with many maps, so you won’t get lost. There are some steeper areas and some stairs, but it’s mostly an easy walk for anyone who is reasonably fit.
The park is very diverse and is probably the best botanical gardens I’ve seen. There was everything from a Petrified Forest (very cool), cactus garden, bonsai garden, a lake that you can paddle boat in, peach blossoms, water plants, bird watching, standard forest hiking, orchid garden, butterfly garden, temple and more. It would be a good idea to set aside several hours, or up to a day if you want a lot of relaxation and picnic time.
Bathrooms are prevalent everywhere, but they range in how nice they are. Most are squat toilets and the bathroom at the temple was not nice at all. It wasn’t too clean, had no toilet paper, had no paper towels, and had no soap.
The only place I really saw food was at the temple, but good luck waiting in that line! It was the longest food line I had ever seen, with literally HUNDREDS of people in it. Luckily, I wasn’t starving, so I skipped it. I think it was pretty limited, too. I only saw people eating some pretty standard noodles.
I struggled between giving this a 4 or 5 star rating. I would like to give it a 4.5. It is a great park. The only detriment was the crowds, and that's really a result of it being a great place to go so I gave it 5 stars. If you have time to kill while in Shenzhen, I highly recommend this park. It’s a very nice break from standard city life and is great for nature lovers or as a pretty place to burn some calories by doing a ton of walking. I would suggest bringing water, picnic food, a hat, sunscreen, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a camera. Also, do your best to go on a weekday!
This park is huge. You can pay a few Yuan and take a bus around the park, which is advised if you don’t want to walk too much or have a disability. When the park is crowded, though, the lines for the bus are immense. I chose to walk the whole park and in about six hours, I saw all of the different parts and walked nearly 12 miles! It is all very walkable with many maps, so you won’t get lost. There are some steeper areas and some stairs, but it’s mostly an easy walk for anyone who is reasonably fit.
The park is very diverse and is probably the best botanical gardens I’ve seen. There was everything from a Petrified Forest (very cool), cactus garden, bonsai garden, a lake that you can paddle boat in, peach blossoms, water plants, bird watching, standard forest hiking, orchid garden, butterfly garden, temple and more. It would be a good idea to set aside several hours, or up to a day if you want a lot of relaxation and picnic time.
Bathrooms are prevalent everywhere, but they range in how nice they are. Most are squat toilets and the bathroom at the temple was not nice at all. It wasn’t too clean, had no toilet paper, had no paper towels, and had no soap.
The only place I really saw food was at the temple, but good luck waiting in that line! It was the longest food line I had ever seen, with literally HUNDREDS of people in it. Luckily, I wasn’t starving, so I skipped it. I think it was pretty limited, too. I only saw people eating some pretty standard noodles.
I struggled between giving this a 4 or 5 star rating. I would like to give it a 4.5. It is a great park. The only detriment was the crowds, and that's really a result of it being a great place to go so I gave it 5 stars. If you have time to kill while in Shenzhen, I highly recommend this park. It’s a very nice break from standard city life and is great for nature lovers or as a pretty place to burn some calories by doing a ton of walking. I would suggest bringing water, picnic food, a hat, sunscreen, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a camera. Also, do your best to go on a weekday!
Written March 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie M
Derbyshire26 contributions
Dec 2017 • Solo
On a recent trip in December 2017 I had time on my hands, and the Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens was a life- saver( I went four times in the end and there were still many paths to explore).Arriving at Huangbeiling on Line 5 of the very efficient, safe underground, with station names and announcements in English, I took bus 382 just outside. Again, the announcements were in English, and I paid the conductress using my underground card.The large entrance to the gardens was visible up the road from the bus- stop. It is a good idea to take food with you, as the main cafe has a limited menu( but does have very nice cheesecake and cappuccinos).The entry fee was cheap, and even cheaper was the bus which takes you in the direction of the Temple: the booth is immediately after the turnstile.It is worth asking for a map if one is not handed to you when you buy your ticket. I speak no Chinese but found pointing and smiling usually worked in the end. The weather was mild, and at times hot. I particularly enjoyed walking around the lake, then sitting to watch the herons and egrets. Tree Fern Pond was very colourful, with bougainvillea and flowers which in England we only see in summer, a cheering sight. A short way way up the hillside was Heavenly Pond, again a good place to sit and relax with a book or take photos. Hongfa Temple I found worth a visit, especially as I appeared to be the only tourist.In the Herb Garden I watched birds eating star fruit from a bush.The Petrified Forest area, with the Museum of Palaeontology adjacent, is a lovely spot to picnic. Paths are clean and well- laid out, with roads only used by maintenance vehicles and those working in the Gardens. Much thought has been put into the collections and the design of individual gardens.I enjoyed seeing the cacti and succulent garden with its 3 glasshouses and the impressive Cycad Garden.Pavilions allow views of the hillside around, while there are pedaloes on the lake, and a tourist shop across from the entrance. Hiking trails above the individual gardens were well marked.Don't be put off by the name- this is far from a theme park.My time there was truly memorable.
Written January 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MannG
San Jose, CA50 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
I think this is also called Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (This is the english name for it, though I am not very sure about.). This is a huge garden. We went by the subway to Huangbeiling station then from there took a bus to the garden.
There are many places to see in the garden but you have to reach early otherwise many things will be missed.
The garden is very clean and has a pure vegetarian restaurant just near the Hongfa temple. The restaurant serves only chinese food. The temple is big and has good architecture. We could not cover the paleobotany and butterfly museum so reaching early is very important.
Inside you can get 8 seater vehicle to cover the place but we didn't tried it so cannot comment how much it covers.
Overall I will rate it as a good place to visit for one day trip. You can visit the website of the fairylake garden(english version is also available).
There are many places to see in the garden but you have to reach early otherwise many things will be missed.
The garden is very clean and has a pure vegetarian restaurant just near the Hongfa temple. The restaurant serves only chinese food. The temple is big and has good architecture. We could not cover the paleobotany and butterfly museum so reaching early is very important.
Inside you can get 8 seater vehicle to cover the place but we didn't tried it so cannot comment how much it covers.
Overall I will rate it as a good place to visit for one day trip. You can visit the website of the fairylake garden(english version is also available).
Written December 18, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil G
London, UK125 contributions
We took a 382 bus from downtown Shenzhen. At the end of the route walk down the hill 200 metres and then turn right up a steep lane. There is no direction sign. At the top of the lane turn left. The gardens are huge and if you dont have lots of stamina take the bus to the top and walk back. The map on the back of the tickets are too small to be helpful. I went with a Chinese friend which helped, but the main signs are also in English. My suggestion is that you need a full day to do it justice.
Written March 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlyguyAustin
San Antonio, TX252 contributions
Nov 2015
Xianhu botanical garden is one of the better tourist destinations in the modern city of ShenZhen. It is very large, and hilly, so you should be a hiker to get the full benefit of what it has to offer. If you are not a walker and your only destination is the active Buddhist temple, the most prominent and interesting feature in the park, you can purchase a bus ticket to carry you up the hill to avoid the walk. Children will also like this garden as there are lots of things on which to climb and Fairy Lake with boats for rent.
Admission to the garden is 20RMB ($3) and children (measured by height, not age) are 10RMB, as are seniors 60-69; 70 years and older are free. To see everything, you should plan about 6 hours, but just visiting the Buddhist temple and walking around Fairy Lake can be done in 3 hours.
Besides the temple, the park consists of specialty gardens, traditional Chinese buildings, a scenic lake, and picnic lawns. I am a visitor to many of the world’s great gardens, and while Xianhu is really nice and I recommend it highly, it lacks in a number of ways. The buildings are new (as is Shenzhen), built of concrete, and lacking in the charm of a Suzhou garden. The outdoor specialty gardens do have some Latin names, but nothing in English. When I was there, there were no butterflies in that garden, and only one orchid plant blooming in that garden; the locals seem to ignore the many cute signs to respect the plants (except in the cactus garden), so maybe all the orchids had been picked early in the morning.
Fairy Lake has a nice walk around it and should be enjoyed. There are many pedal and powered boats to rent by the minute and by the half hour for the equivalent of about $10 an hour, depending upon the type. There are snack bars and lots of clean restrooms and is a nice place to have a picnic.
There are many buses from Shenzhen to the park. Use Google maps (if you can, in advance, because the Chinese government blocks Google) and it will plot the transit route for you. If you go on a weekend, do not take a taxi as the road in and out is very crowded…most of the bus passengers got off early and walked the final 5 blocks rather than wait for the last stop at the garden entrance. If you are a real climber, you can enter the park for free by scaling the tallest mountain in ShenZhen and entering at the back of the Buddhist temple.
Admission to the garden is 20RMB ($3) and children (measured by height, not age) are 10RMB, as are seniors 60-69; 70 years and older are free. To see everything, you should plan about 6 hours, but just visiting the Buddhist temple and walking around Fairy Lake can be done in 3 hours.
Besides the temple, the park consists of specialty gardens, traditional Chinese buildings, a scenic lake, and picnic lawns. I am a visitor to many of the world’s great gardens, and while Xianhu is really nice and I recommend it highly, it lacks in a number of ways. The buildings are new (as is Shenzhen), built of concrete, and lacking in the charm of a Suzhou garden. The outdoor specialty gardens do have some Latin names, but nothing in English. When I was there, there were no butterflies in that garden, and only one orchid plant blooming in that garden; the locals seem to ignore the many cute signs to respect the plants (except in the cactus garden), so maybe all the orchids had been picked early in the morning.
Fairy Lake has a nice walk around it and should be enjoyed. There are many pedal and powered boats to rent by the minute and by the half hour for the equivalent of about $10 an hour, depending upon the type. There are snack bars and lots of clean restrooms and is a nice place to have a picnic.
There are many buses from Shenzhen to the park. Use Google maps (if you can, in advance, because the Chinese government blocks Google) and it will plot the transit route for you. If you go on a weekend, do not take a taxi as the road in and out is very crowded…most of the bus passengers got off early and walked the final 5 blocks rather than wait for the last stop at the garden entrance. If you are a real climber, you can enter the park for free by scaling the tallest mountain in ShenZhen and entering at the back of the Buddhist temple.
Written November 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pojaya
Sydney, Australia1,256 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
Probably best to take a cab as there does not seem to have any subway station out this way. The cost from the Dongmen Shopping area ( Days Inn Shenzhen) was under 30 yuan, that is less than USD5. It was perhaps a 15-20 minute ride.
At the entrance, you need to buy a ticket to go in, I think it was Y20 per person. Once inside, you can buy a ticket for the bus to take you up the hill/ mountain to the temple ( Hong Fa Shi). Or you can choose to walk. Do note that it can be rather steep, and it is mostly uphill to the temple. Takes about one hour to walk up.
Perhaps it being quite close to Chinese New Year, the temple itself was rather busy, with lots of people making offerings and praying.
Makes for an interesting if somewhat tiring morning! ( At least it helped to walk off the dim sum breakfast!)
At the entrance, you need to buy a ticket to go in, I think it was Y20 per person. Once inside, you can buy a ticket for the bus to take you up the hill/ mountain to the temple ( Hong Fa Shi). Or you can choose to walk. Do note that it can be rather steep, and it is mostly uphill to the temple. Takes about one hour to walk up.
Perhaps it being quite close to Chinese New Year, the temple itself was rather busy, with lots of people making offerings and praying.
Makes for an interesting if somewhat tiring morning! ( At least it helped to walk off the dim sum breakfast!)
Written January 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hippodiver
Asia106 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
I visited this garden on Sunday 30 Sep 18, after the typhoon Mangkhut.
Although the ground of this botanical garden is very large, there were actually not many things to see, especially plants and flowers.
Some of the areas were either closed off or still under construction. There were also a lot of trees and branches that fell off due to the typhoon and were being cleared slowly.
To visit the entire park means a lot of walking up and down roads designed for park buses to take visitors around the park so the park is actually not that pedestrian friendly. Some roads had no pavements for pedestrians.
At the entrance of the garden, there is an option to take the park bus (RMB 3) up near the lake. Walking uphill would take about 15 minutes and not much to see along the way. The best option is to take the bus up and walk down.
Considering the location of the garden which is quite far depending on where you are located in Shenzhen, I think this is garden is a disappointment in its current state and not worth the effort.
Although the ground of this botanical garden is very large, there were actually not many things to see, especially plants and flowers.
Some of the areas were either closed off or still under construction. There were also a lot of trees and branches that fell off due to the typhoon and were being cleared slowly.
To visit the entire park means a lot of walking up and down roads designed for park buses to take visitors around the park so the park is actually not that pedestrian friendly. Some roads had no pavements for pedestrians.
At the entrance of the garden, there is an option to take the park bus (RMB 3) up near the lake. Walking uphill would take about 15 minutes and not much to see along the way. The best option is to take the bus up and walk down.
Considering the location of the garden which is quite far depending on where you are located in Shenzhen, I think this is garden is a disappointment in its current state and not worth the effort.
Written October 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yannlb
Paris, France107 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
Buy your tickets just before the gate, it's only 15 RMB per person, free if you're over 60 y.o. Then I suggest to buy the 3 RMB bus ticket to take you to the temple.
You can visit the temple by going up to the top of it.
Then walk your way down back to the main entrance, and if you have time visit each of the "pavillons" on the way. You'll need a lot of time if you want to make all of them.
The scenery is great, and the all park is very well maintained.
I would not take young kids there as there's not much to do besides visiting.
You can visit the temple by going up to the top of it.
Then walk your way down back to the main entrance, and if you have time visit each of the "pavillons" on the way. You'll need a lot of time if you want to make all of them.
The scenery is great, and the all park is very well maintained.
I would not take young kids there as there's not much to do besides visiting.
Written March 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would like to bring a group of 17 grade 3/4 students to the Botanical Garden and stay overnight some place close by that can house 17 kids and 4 adults. Do you have any suggestions of places to stay and activities in the gardens? thanks
Written February 22, 2017
We went today and didn't see everything but I'm sure they'll like the Cacti Garden and the tower. And there's probably much more to see.
Written December 16, 2017
Too far to walk. At a guess I would say 35rmb in a taxi from Luohu Station.
Written March 12, 2016
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