A night visit to the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the largest botanical garden in China with the richest collection of species and the largest number of specified botanical sectors. A night visit to the botanical garden is a complete different experience with the day tour.

At 8:30 p.m., we set off with our guide "Strawberry". According to "Strawberry", all the guiders in charge of night tours in the botanical garden have nicknames based on the animals, plants or natural phenomenon, as they believe this will bring them closer to nature.

We heard insects singing all the way, and from time to time, frogs croaking in the pond. It seems as if they made up a rain forest symphony orchestra.

If you come to visit Xishuangbanna botanical garden during the end of May to mid-June, you may encounter fireflies at night. The vast number of glowing insects look like a flowing Milky Way, making your summer night the most romantic one.

Searching for plants and animals at night can be a great fun as well. We found a stick insect which disguised itself as a branch. And we also spotted a banded bullfrog under a stump. It is said that when the frog is frightened or croaks, its body will expand as if full of air. It is so adorable. (By Duan Jianxin from the 927 Tour. Some photos provided by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences )