Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden (Danzhou Tropical Botanical Garden)

Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden (Dan Zhou Tropical Botanical Garden)

Located in the western suburbs of Nada Town, Danzhou City, it is the botanical specimen garden of the China Tropical Agriculture University and the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. Covering an area of 32 hectares, it was established in 1958.

The garden is home to over 1,000 species of trees from more than 40 countries around the world, divided into seven exhibition areas: tropical spice plants, tropical medicinal plants, tropical fruit trees, tropical oil plants, and tropical ornamental plants. It is a treasure trove of rare tropical trees worldwide and holds high ornamental value.

The Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden has developed six touring zones: economic forest zone, palm zone, tropical fruit tree zone, spice and medicinal plant zone, ornamental flowering plants zone, and woody oil plant zone. A wide variety of rare and exotic plants are gathered here, creating a magnificent sight. The tropical fruit tree zone features the "king of tropical fruits" — mango; the "queen of fruits" — durian; and one of the world’s four famous nuts — cashew. There is also the sapodilla, named for its heart-like appearance, and the rambutan, whose spiky red skin is covered with fleshy tiny spikes. The canistel has flesh that resembles the color and texture of a boiled egg yolk.

The economic forest zone of the Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden not only hosts renowned trees from around the world — such as mahogany, teak, rosewood, sandalwood, and red sandalwood — but also includes Hainan-native, nationally protected, endangered plants like Vatica mangachapoi and Hopea hainanensis. It even has ironwood, a tree so dense it sinks in water and is incredibly hard.

The spice and medicinal plant zone features well-known aromatic plants such as ylang-ylang, known as the “king of flowers,” vanilla, hailed as the “king of food flavorings,” one of the three great balsams — Tolu balsam — as well as cloves, cinnamon, and lemongrass.

The woody oil plant zone is home to many famous oil-producing plants, such as oil palm, oil mangosteen, tea oil, and oil mafutsu. There is also a rich variety of medicinal plants, including the world-renowned anti-cancer plants like Hainan podocarpus, Maytenus hookeri, as well as commonly known ones like boat-fruited sterculia, nux vomica, and agarwood.

One of the proudest features of the Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden is its two towering trees of antiaris toxicaria, which require two or three people to encircle with their arms. It is said to be the most poisonous plant in the world. Its milky-white, highly toxic resin and leaf sap can cause blood to clot instantly and lead to death if they enter the bloodstream through a wound. Even the smoke from burning this tree can cause blindness if it enters the eyes. In ancient times, the Miao people of Hainan often applied its poison to arrowheads for hunting and warfare.

Within the Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden, you can find breadfruit trees, sausage trees, snake fruit trees, and the “king of aquatic plants” — the Victoria amazonica water lily — all with unique shapes. There are also 42 species of nationally protected rare and endangered plants and over 500 varieties of tropical flowers. The Tropical Crops Academy Botanical Garden is a treasure trove of China’s tropical plant resources and a microcosm of the world’s tropical flora. Here, rare and exotic plants thrive in vibrant abundance, making it one of the most scenic spots to visit in Danzhou, Hainan.

Address:

Inside the China Tropical Agriculture University, Nada Town, Danzhou City, Hainan Province, China

Phone:

0898-23300195

Admission

30 RMB

Nada Town: Nada Town is located in the northwest of Hainan Province and the southwest of Danzhou City. It is 137 kilometers northeast of Haikou City and 288 kilometers southwest of Sanya City (via highway). The town has a history of over 400 years and has always been under the jurisdiction of Dan’er, Danzhou, or Dan County. It is now the seat of the municipal Party committee and government. As the political, economic, and cultural center of Danzhou City, it is a key town in western Hainan and a major transportation hub.

Nada has a concentrated population, vast area, fertile land, and pleasant climate. Covering an area of 238.76 square kilometers, it governs 30 village (residential) committees and 6 town-run farms, with a population of 20... More detailed information about Nada Town++