Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen – A Peaceful Retreat

Fairy Lake Square covers nearly 2,000 square meters and features a central traditional Chinese archway known as the Xianhu Gate Tower. This grand structure stands 12.75 meters tall and 33.5 meters wide, exuding a majestic presence that divides the square into two symmetrical sections. In front of the gate tower, there is a beautifully landscaped flower bed with a white marble statue of a flying celestial maiden. The parking area is designed to mimic the shape of a boat, adorned with vibrant bougainvilleas that bloom in colorful displays, creating a stunning sight during their flowering season.

As visitors pass through the gate tower, they are greeted by a lush array of tropical plants, including King Palms, Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine), and Coconut Palms, enhancing the garden’s exotic ambiance. To the right, you’ll find a ticket booth for the park’s shuttle bus service, while on the left, steps lead up to the administrative building of the botanical garden (which is not open to the public). Approximately 100 meters ahead is the Xianhu Mall, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, potted plants, and books related to their experience.

Longzun Tower is situated atop a small hill on the southern edge of Sago Palm Lake. Standing at 21 meters high and consisting of seven levels, this impressive tower serves as a monitoring point for forest fires while also providing an excellent vantage point for sightseeing. From the top, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views: to the east, the mist-covered Wutong Mountain and the beautiful Cycad Garden are visible, while to the north, the enchanting scenery of the Celestial Realm awaits.

The Celestial Realm scenic area includes Mulan Garden, Yinsheng Garden, Butterfly Valley Orchid, Rose Garden, and Sago Palm Lake. This area is a must-visit for tourists, featuring well-developed facilities that seamlessly blend relaxation with educational experiences. At the center lies the expansive Celestial Realm lawn, adorned with a stunning row of Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine) trees to the south and east, creating a beautiful landscape.

In Yinsheng Garden, visitors can admire national protected plants such as Camellia, Lotus Fern, and Chinese Water Bamboo. The garden also showcases shade-loving plants like Bitter Cabbage, Begonia, Hoya, Pineapple, and various mosses. Butterfly Valley Orchid is a delightful spot to view unique orchids and observe butterflies. The Rose Garden, built around a newly constructed celestial pool, features three exquisite white marble statues of celestial maidens playing, surrounded by hundreds of rose varieties, making it a captivating new attraction.

Hongfa Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Shenzhen, located on the eastern side of Fairy Lake, halfway up Wutong Mountain. Originally, a small Wutong Immortal Temple existed at the site. Construction of Hongfa Temple began on July 1, 1985, marking it as the first temple built in China after the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949. The temple opened to the public on August 31, 1990, and the ceremony for the consecration of the Buddha statue, along with the ascension ceremony for the esteemed monk, took place on June 31, 1992.

Hongfa Temple is oriented southeast and faces northwest, nestled against the steep, verdant slopes of Wutong Mountain. It overlooks the shimmering waters of Fairy Lake and the vast Shenzhen Reservoir. The temple’s architecture is grand and resplendent, characterized by its brilliant golden decorations. Since its opening, Hongfa Temple has gradually become a prominent Buddhist site in Shenzhen, attracting numerous visitors for worship and spiritual connection.

Sago Palm Lake is located on the southern side of the Celestial Realm lawn, shaped like a narrow triangle and named after the national protected plant, Sago Palm, which is planted along its northern bank. The southern shore features a vibrant flower path themed around the city flower, Bougainvillea. The southwestern and southern waterfront areas are lined with trees and shrubs such as Frangipani, Calliandra, and Bougainvillea, complemented by aquatic plants and ornamental grasses. This arrangement of perennials and seasonal flowers creates a colorful and tranquil riverside floral environment that is beloved by visitors throughout the year.

The Shenzhen Paleontology Museum focuses on the collection, research, and exhibition of animal and plant fossils. Nestled against the mountains, its exterior resembles a giant dinosaur skeleton. The museum is divided into two main exhibition areas: the Animal Fossil Exhibition Area on the first floor and the Plant Fossil Exhibition Area on the second floor.

In the Animal Fossil Exhibition Area, notable exhibits include: 1) the Zhanghe Beast fossil model, which unravels the mysteries of early mammalian evolution and serves as a crucial link in the transition from oviparous to viviparous animals; 2) a collection of 388 dinosaur egg fossils from Nanyang, Henan, representing 12 species across three families, donated to the museum after being seized by Shenzhen’s border inspection station; and 3) a 20-meter-long fossil of the Mamenchisaurus, one of the largest dinosaur skeletons in China.

The Plant Fossil Exhibition Area features the distinctive Liaoning ancient fruit fossil, known as “China’s First Flower.” Additionally, the second floor houses a screening room that can accommodate 52 people, where educational science films are regularly shown for visitors.

The Fossil Forest is one of the largest sites in the world dedicated to the conservation and display of petrified wood, featuring both domestic and international exhibition areas. Petrified wood is a genuine wood fossil formed millions to tens of millions of years ago when trees were rapidly buried underground. During this process, the organic material in the wood is replaced by silica (SiO₂) from groundwater, while the wood’s structure and texture remain intact.

The domestic exhibition area houses over 400 pieces of petrified wood collected from regions such as Liaoning, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia. This area is designed to simulate two distinct environments: a Gobi desert and an oasis, enhanced by the presence of ancient petrified wood to create a visually striking landscape. The exhibited petrified wood primarily belongs to coniferous species and dates back to the Mesozoic era, approximately 70 million to 150 million years ago.

Adjacent to the domestic area is the international exhibition area, which features over 200 specimens of petrified wood from Madagascar, Indonesia, the United States, Mongolia, Myanmar, and other locations. The earliest specimens originate from the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous strata (approximately 135 million years ago) and include species such as cypress and dawn redwood. The most recent specimens date to about 1 million years ago from the Quaternary period and include varieties like camphorwood.