Nanning Garden Expo Park

Subtitle: A Comprehensive Visitor's Guide to Nanning Garden Expo Park

1. Introduction to the Landscape Nestled in the heart of Nanning, the Garden Expo Park, spanning approximately 263 hectares, is a masterful integration of landscape architecture and ecological restoration. The site is characterized by its quintessential Lingnan hilly topography, featuring an undulating terrain of around 18 hills and 16 abandoned quarries. This varied landscape is interwoven with multiple water bodies, including the Nazun River in the north, the Qingshui Spring in the center, and the southern mining pits, alongside remnants of small-scale villages. The park boasts a rich tapestry of natural features—rolling hills, meandering waterways, and lush vegetation—providing exceptional conditions for garden design with its mountains, waters, forests, springs, and lakes. Furthermore, the park grounds encompass a nationally protected cultural relic site: a typical inland river basin freshwater shell midden, adding a layer of historical depth. The 12th China International Garden Expo was hosted here, embodying the themes of "Ecology, Culture, and Sharing," aiming to offer visitors an experience where they can "see the mountains, behold the waters, and remember the nostalgia of hometown."

2. The Core Landscape Features: Three Lakes, Six Bridges, and Eighteen Ridges The park's design brilliantly organizes its natural assets into memorable features.

2.1. The Three Lakes The water system is strategically divided into three major lake areas, running from north to south: * Linglong Lake (Exquisite Lake): The northernmost lake, often admired for its delicate beauty. * Qingquan Lake (Clear Spring Lake): Located centrally, named for the clear springs that feed it. * Qicai Lake (Seven Colors Lake): The southern lake, potentially named for the vibrant reflections or ecological diversity it hosts.

2.2. The Six Bridges Connecting the park across these three lakes are six distinctive bridges: * Vehicle Bridges: Zhujin Bridge (Hibiscus Bridge), Jinhua Bridge (Golden Flower Bridge), and Diecui Bridge (Layered Verdure Bridge). * Pedestrian Bridges: Zhizhu Bridge (Bamboo Wisdom Bridge), Guyue Bridge (Drum Music Bridge), and Jinxiu Bridge (Splendid Brocade Bridge).

2.3. The Eighteen Ridges The existing eighteen hillocks have been preserved and enhanced through ecological rehabilitation and landscaping techniques. They are grouped into three main ridge systems, forming the park's green backbone: the Yong, Long (Dragon), and Cui (Verdant) ridges.

3. Thematic Garden Zones The park is organized into six major thematic exhibition garden areas, hosting approximately 80 individual gardens in total: * Chinese Cities Garden: Showcasing garden art and horticultural styles from various cities across China. * ASEAN Garden: Featuring landscapes and cultural elements from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries. * Silk Road Garden: Celebrating the historical and cultural connections along the ancient Silk Road. * Guangxi Garden: Highlighting the distinctive natural and cultural heritage of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. * Designers' Garden: Presenting innovative and contemporary garden designs from landscape architects. * Corporate Garden: Featuring gardens sponsored and designed by various enterprises.

4. Practical Visitor Information

4.1. Ticket Information * Standard Ticket: 45 RMB. * Concession Ticket: 20 RMB. Applicable to: * Minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive). * Full-time undergraduate students and below (including students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas; excludes adult education, self-study programs, and postgraduate students). * Seniors aged 60 (inclusive) to 65 (exclusive). * Free Admission: Granted to: * Children aged 6 and below or with a height of 1.4 meters and below. * Seniors aged 65 and above. * Active-duty military personnel (including armed police) and individuals with disabilities. * Recipients of certain high-level blood donation awards and volunteer service honors. * Individuals who have received municipal-level or above model worker awards. * Note: Ticket information is for reference only. Please confirm with the park on the day of your visit.

4.2. Opening Hours * Summer (June 1 - August 31): 09:00 - 18:00 (Last entry at 18:00). * Winter (December 1 - February 28/29 of the following year): 09:00 - 17:00 (Last entry at 17:00). * Operating days are Monday through Sunday. Hours for the spring and autumn seasons may vary; please verify in advance.

4.3. Transportation * By Bus: Take bus routes 123 (operational on weekends and holidays), 703, B02, or D28. Alight at the "Yuanboyuan" (Garden Expo Park) bus stop, and the park entrance is within walking distance.

4.4. Contact Information * Telephone: 0771-6770022