Shenyang Botanical Garden

Shenyang Botanical Garden

Shenyang Botanical Garden is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Shenyang Botanical Garden, located in Zhongma Village, Gao Kan Town, Dongling District, Shenyang City, has been honored with titles such as "One of the Fifty Finest Scenic Spots in Liaoning Province," "One of the Fifteen Major Tourist Attractions in Shenyang City," and "One of the Ten Major Science Education Bases in Shenyang City." It serves as a research and science education base as well as a tourist attraction that combines natural and cultural landscapes, and integrates appreciation, knowledge, and entertainment.

Shenyang Botanical Garden, located at No. 301 Shuangyuan Road, Dongling District, Shenyang City, is just ten kilometers west of downtown. It covers an area of 211 hectares, including 196 hectares of green space, 6.5 hectares of water surface, and 6.9 hectares of roads and buildings. The site features rolling hills, shimmering lakes, lush pines and firs, vibrant flower clusters, dancing leaves and vines, carpet-like lawns, elegant pavilions, cascading waterfalls, and a kaleidoscope of colors with fragrances wafting through the air—each step reveals a new stunning view. The garden showcases over 1,700 species of plants from Northeast China, Northwest China, North China, and Inner Mongolia, including some rare and endangered species, making it the botanical garden with the most diverse plant collection in the Northeast. The wide range of recreational activities is equally captivating, especially the more than fifty uniquely designed and themed "amusement bridges" and the thrilling "rock climbing" experiences that leave visitors in awe and yearning to return. It can be described as a "kingdom of plants," a "world of amusement bridges," and an ideal destination for tourism, sightseeing, leisure, and vacation. The garden has a railway station on-site, and is accessible by public buses via Shuangyuan Road and Shenfu Highway (northern route), offering very convenient transportation. It has increasingly become a beloved tourist spot. Additionally, over fifty uniquely styled suspension bridges have been built over the park's lakes, becoming a popular activity among visitors. The distinctive children's playground and thrilling rock climbing attractions are especially enticing for young people. These projects have all obtained national patents.

Natural Geography

Shenyang Botanical Garden is situated at the edge of the low mountainous and hilly terrain in the northeastern part of the urban area. These low mountains and hills originate from the famous Changbai Mountain Range and are an extension of the Jilin Hadaling branch of Changbai Mountain. This undulating mountain range extends to Guanyinge at the junction of Shenyang and Fushun, where it forms a spur westward toward Qipanshan. This spur further divides into four branches: one extends westward from Qipanshan along the right bank of the Pu River; another centers around Huishan Mountain, stretching southwest through the administrative regions of Mantang Township and Yinda Township; a third runs southwest from Mantang to Tianzhushan Peak in Fuling; and the fourth extends southwest from Guanyinge through Gao Kan Town directly to the north bank of the Hun River. The botanical garden is located at the end of this last spur, facing Tianzhushan Peak of Fuling across the way. Its geographical coordinates are between 123°37′52″ and 123°37′54″ east longitude, and 41°51′35″ and 41°51′37″ north latitude. The highest elevation is 106 meters, and the lowest is 75 meters (while the average elevation in the city is only about 45 meters), resulting in a height difference of 31 meters. The terrain is generally high around the edges and low in the center. The landforms are complex and varied, featuring rolling hills and plateaus, crisscrossing ravines, sparkling lakes, and expansive flat areas. The soil is acidic brown forest soil. The vegetation belongs to the transitional zone where the North Temperate flora of North China, Inner Mongolia, and Changbai intersect, offering excellent conditions for cultivating and introducing a wide variety of plants. The garden is bordered by Shenfu Highway (northern route) to the south and Shuangyuan Road to the west.

Historical Background

As the saying goes, “There is no present without the past.” The area around Shenyang Botanical Garden also boasts many historical and cultural sites. According to historical records, ancient villages such as "Jiuzhan" (Old Station), "Gao Kan," "Shangma" (historically known as "Shangmajia Wanzi"), "Zhongma" (Zhongmajia Wanzi), "Xiama" (Xiamajia Wanzi), "Yantai" (historically called "Yanta Nilu"), "Qijianfang," and "Zhongshuiquan" have existed since the early Qing Dynasty. Among these, Jiuzhan, Gao Kan, Qijianfang, and Yantai once housed ancient temples such as "Xiangyun Temple," "Longquan Temple," "Qingyun Temple," and "Guandi Temple" (none of which exist today). Moreover, Jiuzhan is older than the other villages. The main road in front of the southern gate of Shenyang Botanical Garden—Shenfu Highway (northern route)—is a thousand-year-old ancient path, referred to as the "Great Imperial Road" during the Qing Dynasty. Emperors such as Kangxi, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang traveled this route multiple times to and from Shengjing (Shenyang) and Xingjing (Xinbin) to worship at ancestral mausoleums. On their return journeys, the imperial entourage would set up a “mid-journey camp” in Yantai Village for the emperor’s “lunch.” At that time, officials of fifth rank or higher in Shengjing would gather in Yantai Village to kneel and welcome the emperor back to the capital. The Shenfu Railway that runs through the garden was originally called the "Fenghai Railway," built independently by the people of Northeast China in 1925. Prior to that, all railways in the Northeast were constructed by imperialist powers. The Fenghai Railway is an important historical relic of the past century in the Northeast and serves as educational material for fostering patriotism among young people. In 1958, when Chairman Mao Zedong was en route to Fushun, he inspected Jiuzhan (the seat of Gao Kan Commune). The following year, plans to establish the botanical garden began here—a historical coincidence.

Over the past forty-plus years since its establishment, through the dedicated efforts of successive leadership, cadres, and employees—especially the deepening reforms and opening-up of the past decade—Shenyang Botanical Garden has been developed into a newly designed, well-planned, rich in content, neatly maintained, and service-oriented garden beloved by visitors. The overall layout of Shenyang Botanical Garden is divided into northern and southern sections by the Shenfu Railway. The southern section includes major attractions such as specialized plant gardens, Cuihu Lake and Rock Climbing Area, Jingtan Lake and Lingjiao Gully Amusement Bridge Zone, the Science Education Area, and the Starry Kids' Playground. The northern section houses the Steam Locomotive Exhibition Hall, a hotel, and plant cultivation areas.

Founded in October 1959 under the direction of Comrade Jiao Ruoyu, then Secretary of the Shenyang Municipal Committee, the botanical garden initially fell under the jurisdiction of the Shenyang Urban Construction Bureau. In 1962, it was taken over by the Shenyang Gardens Authority. During the Cultural Revolution, it was disbanded and incorporated into the "Donghui Forest Farm." It was reinstated in 1973. In 1981, after the separation of the Shenyang Gardens Authority and the Shenyang Greening Authority, the botanical garden came under the latter. In 1988, it was transferred to the Shenyang Garden Science Research Institute. In 1994, it returned to the Shenyang Urban Construction Bureau as a directly affiliated institution. The garden officially opened to the public in September 1993.

Garden Classification

The specialized plant gardens are divided into over twenty themed gardens based on different plant families, species, and ecological habits, including the Peony and Herbaceous Peony Garden, Lilac Garden, Azalea Garden, Lawn Plant Area, Perennial Flower Garden, Fruit-Viewing Garden, Magnolia Garden, Pine and Fir Garden, Rose Garden, Herbal Garden, Cherry Blossom Garden, Tree Specimen Garden, Aquatic Plant Area, Lithophyte Area, Colorful Leaf Garden, Lily Garden, Rare and Endangered Plant Conservation Area, Topiary Tree Area, Spring Welcome Garden, and Terraced Garden. Among them are rare treasures rarely seen in the Northeast, such as century-old peonies, and endangered plants and flowers like the Northeast yew and Korean blueberry. Decorations such as pavilions, corridors, flower stands, landscape walls, rockeries, waterfalls, and fountains add charm and character to the specialized gardens. The Cuihu Lake Area features vast, emerald waters like a giant “green gem,” with rock-climbing installations on its shores resembling a “flying peak,” offering brave visitors a chance to test their courage and strength. Jingtan Lake and Lingjiao Gully are hubs for the amusement bridges, attracting thousands of visitors daily who challenge themselves, overcome limits, and gain insight into life’s value. The Starry Kids' Playground is a haven for children, with various animal-shaped play structures keeping young visitors enthralled. The Animal Viewing Area displays nearly a hundred species of rare birds and animals, providing a visual feast. The Science Corridor, Science Gallery, and Science Park introduce botanical and ecological knowledge in innovative, easy-to-understand ways. The “Man and Nature” series of sculptures, full of artistic charm, recount ancient and mysterious myths and legends, showcasing the profound cultural heritage and historical depth of Chinese civilization. The Steam Locomotive Exhibition Hall displays seventeen vintage steam locomotives—both domestic models used in China’s railway history and eight foreign-made ones. These technological relics bear witness to a century of humiliation in China’s modern history... The garden offers scenic beauty in all seasons: in spring and summer, lilacs, roses, and locust flowers fill the air with fragrance; in late autumn, red leaves and abundant fruit captivate; in winter, snow-laden pines, birches, and a silver-coated landscape enchant. Several large-scale flower exhibitions held annually are rare spectacles in Shenyang, including the Tulip Exhibition in May, the Peony and Iris Exhibition in June, the Lily Exhibition in July, the Dahlia Exhibition in August, and the Groundcover Chrysanthemum Exhibition in September, each drawing large crowds of visitors.