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The Tropical Botanical Garden in Menglun
 The Tropical Botanical Garden is
located on Hulu Island in Menglun Township, 96 kilometers from
Jinghong.
The Chinese call it the " Green Gem on the Crown of the Plant Kingdom
", and it is the birthplace of conservation activities in
Xishuangbanna. The garden was established in 1959 under the famous
botanist Cai Xitao. In the garden's 860 ha. area, thousands upon
thousands of varieties of tropical and subtropical plants from home
and abroad are growing. Visitors can view many rare exotic and
endangered plant species here; the dragon tree, the maytenwood, and
the poisonous upas tree; the thirst-relieving " carriage-pole vine ";
the " clock flo wer " that opens and closes along with the sunrise and
sunset; the " dancing grass " that responds to sound; the " king lotus
" which can support a seated child on the water; the "mystery fruit"
able to turn sour to sweet, then sweet to sour; and the "King of Tea
Trees", which authorities say is at least 800 years old; it continues
to sprout, and give the flavour of its' homeland, the land of the
Pu'er red tea. |
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