Chongqing Garden Expo Park (重庆园博园), located in the city of Chongqing, serves as the venue for the 8th China (Chongqing) International Garden and Landscape Expo. Covering a sprawling area of 3300 mu (about 220 hectares), with 800 mu of water bodies, it stands as a monumental urban park seamlessly blending natural landscapes and cultural heritage.
This remarkable park is divided into four major functional zones, featuring five distinctive architectural wonders. With a total of 127 city exhibition gardens, over 1,200 plant species, 300 species of wildlife (including over 150 bird species), the park is a testament to the rich biodiversity of the region. The architectural styles across the park predominantly reflect classical and traditional influences, and it is further organized into four main sections: the entrance area, scenic gardens, exhibition gardens, and an ecological zone.
In May 2014, Chongqing Garden Expo Park was honored with a prestigious national AAAA-level tourist attraction rating, and in December 2016, it was recognized as one of the top ten most popular tourist destinations in Chongqing.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Chongqing Garden Expo Park
- Vlog about Chongqing Garden Expo Park
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Basic Information
| Website | http://www.cqybh2011.com/ |
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 day |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-023-63086110 0086-023-63086109 |
Location and Transportation
Chongqing Garden Expo Park is situated in the Longjing Lake area of the Yuyang Subdistrict, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing City, China, near the Bayu Folk Custom Museum. Its precise address is 1 Longjing Road, with geographic coordinates at approximately 106°33′ east longitude and 29°40′ north latitude. To get there, you can choose the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 555, 559, 575, 623, 633, 676, 883, or 965, get off at Yuanboyuan Zhengmen Stop (园博园正门站), and walk about 250 meters to the southeast to reach the main entrance.
Metro: There are two metro stations near Chongqing Garden Expo Park. One is Garden Expo Center (Yuanbo Zhongxin, 园博中心) on line 5, and the other is Garden Expo Park (Yuanboyuan, 园博园) on line 3. They are pretty close to each other and lead to the east entrance of the park.
Highlights of Chongqing Garden Expo Park
Main Exhibition Hall
One of the park’s highlights is the Main Exhibition Hall, situated at the main entrance square of the park. Rising to a height of 33 meters across five floors, it stands as the most iconic structure and attraction within the Garden Expo Park. The Main Exhibition Hall harmoniously combines traditional Ba and Yu architectural elements with modern construction techniques. Nestled against the hillside, it features inner courtyards, showcasing the artistic essence of mountain architecture. The building houses exhibition halls, multipurpose halls, meeting rooms, offices, and specialty shops.
Chongqing Cloud Tower
Another architectural gem is the Chongqing Cloud Tower, the only tower-style structure within the Garden Expo Park. Soaring to a height of 51.6 meters across seven floors, it claims the title of the tallest individual building in the park. Visitors can ascend the tower to gain panoramic views of the entire park, a truly breathtaking experience. The Cloud Tower itself is not just an architectural marvel; it is surrounded by various coniferous and evergreen trees, creating a serene ambiance.
Circular Fate Garden
The Circular Fate Garden, located in the northern part of the park’s art square, covers an area of over 1600 square meters and borders the modern garden exhibition area. It is renowned as one of Chongqing’s seven major theme sculpture gardens. Characterized by its transparent and bright design and a distinctive hollow dome structure, it provides an acoustic phenomenon where one can hear echoes when speaking in the center. The central sculpture features the Chinese character “缘” (fate), symbolizing the idea of people coming together from far and wide due to fate.
Ba and Yu Garden
Ba and Yu Garden, located in the middle of the Garden Expo Park, showcases the traditional architectural style of Ba and Yu with its “stilted” buildings. Ten uniquely designed mountain courtyards are nestled against the hills and waters, featuring elegant eaves and a charming interplay of varying heights. The reflections on the lake surface create an ethereal and picturesque landscape, evoking a sense of “gentle breezes around towering buildings, with houses overlapping like hills.” This area serves as the park’s primary functional service zone, offering amenities such as teahouses and dining establishments for visitors to relax and dine.
Dragon Scenic Academy
The Dragon Scenic Academy stands as the only academic building within Chongqing Garden Expo Park. Positioned on the slopes of Longjing Lake in the park’s central region, it adheres to the traditional rules of Chinese architecture, with a symmetrical layout along a central axis, characterized by a “higher in the northwest, lower in the southeast” arrangement. The entrance area features an inscription of the “Xunzi’s Encouragement to Learning,” and the central building follows the layout of an ancient school, providing an ideal setting for cultural activities such as singing, reading, and lectures. The academy is surrounded by a themed garden, the “Three Friends Garden,” featuring pine, bamboo, and plum trees.
Various Graden Landscapes
In addition to these remarkable attractions, Chongqing Garden Expo Park includes ten themed exhibition zones: Northern Garden Landscapes, Hong Kong and Macau Garden Landscapes, International Garden Landscapes, Eclectic Garden Landscapes, Jiangnan Garden Landscapes, Lingnan Garden Landscapes, Fujian and Taiwan Garden Landscapes, Western Garden Landscapes, Modern Garden Landscapes, and Corporate Exhibition Gardens. Together, these zones host 127 exhibition gardens, showcasing diverse Chinese landscaping styles and exotic international garden designs.
Vlog about Chongqing Garden Expo Park
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Transportation Options: The park is expansive, and exploring it solely on foot may take up to two days. It’s highly recommended to opt for the sightseeing car, priced at 15 yuan, to cover more ground efficiently.
Best Time to Visit: The optimal visiting period is from March to September. It’s advisable to avoid visiting during winter and peak summer months when the weather can be either too cold or extremely hot. Spring and early summer are ideal, especially after light rain, as the scenery is particularly beautiful for photography.
Food and Shopping: There are limited dining and shopping options within the park, primarily located near the lake. It’s advisable to bring your own food and beverages to ensure you have sustenance throughout your visit.