Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden is located next to the Golden Temple Scenic Area in the northeastern suburbs of Panlong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, about 4 kilometers from downtown Kunming. It is a national 5A-level scenic area. The park covers an area of about 2.18 square kilometers, with a vegetation coverage rate of 76.7%, of which 120 hectares are gentle slopes with dense shrubs, and water surfaces account for 10%-15%. The total building area is 19,927 square meters, the viewing platform area is 3,600 square meters, and the road and site paving area is 4,340 square meters. The scenic area integrates local characteristics from provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China, as well as garden and horticultural works, courtyard architecture, and technological achievements in the styles of 95 countries. With the theme of "Man and Nature, Harmonious Development," it is a concentrated showcase of modern garden architecture and art.
History and Culture
In May 1993, China applied to the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) to host the 1999 World Horticultural Exposition; in October 1994, AIPH resolved to support it, and in December of the same year, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) approved it. In December 1995, the State Council approved Yunnan Province to host it and adjusted the venue from Beijing to Kunming. In 1996, the BIE and AIPH respectively agreed to relocate the site to Kunming. Construction of the park began in 1997, and it officially opened in May 1999. From May 1 to October 31 of the same year, the '99 Kunming World Horticultural Exposition was held. After the exposition closed, the venues were retained as a whole for tourism development. In 2000, the Expo Bureau was restructured into Yunnan Expo Group. In 2020, Overseas Chinese Town Group launched a park renovation and upgrading project.
Main Attractions
Garden Avenue
It is 800 meters long and about 60 meters wide, including a themed landscape corridor and a garden parade avenue. The main building complex is arranged in a terraced form. The corridor consists of flower galleries and flower beds, with main flowers including rhododendrons, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, and others.
China Hall
The largest main exhibition hall of the expo, covering 33,000 square meters, with a building area of nearly 20,000 square meters. It adopts the style of southern residential architecture with white walls and green tiles, and includes a viewing platform, main exhibition hall, 9 functional exhibition halls, and office and service areas.
Great Greenhouse
The total building area is 3,630 square meters, and it covers 2,400 square meters. It is aligned with the central axis of the expo garden entrance and is divided into tropical, temperate, and alpine plant exhibition areas (above 3,000 meters above sea level) and a picture exhibition hall.
Man and Nature Hall
It covers an area of 19,148 square meters and consists of three regular hexagons with sides of 24 meters.
Science and Technology Hall
It covers an area of 6,650 square meters and is divided into two parts: an exhibition hall and a dome-screen cinema.
Shaanxi Tang Garden
It features 26 landscapes, including the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Lingyan Pavilion Que, Furong Garden, Peony Garden, and Apricot Garden.
Tibet Gesang Garden
Tibet Gesang Garden (meaning Auspicious Garden) is derived from Norbulingka, a precious garden heritage of Tibet. It comprehensively reflects the Tibetan people's artistic achievements in gardening, architecture, painting, sculpture, and other aspects.
Jiangxi Porcelain Garden
It covers 1,112 square meters and displays ancient handmade porcelain techniques, creating a garden effect with Jiangxi local characteristics and reproducing a corner of Jingdezhen during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Beijing Wanchun Garden
In style, it mainly expresses the grand, solemn, elegant, and luxurious characteristics of imperial gardens. The garden gate is a 1:1 replica of the three gates in front of the Imperial Vault of Heaven in Beijing's Temple of Heaven, intended to express imperial grandeur.
Chongqing Bayu Garden
It covers 1,510 square meters and presents a landscape garden that reflects the natural features of Chongqing.
Bamboo Garden
Located on the southeast side of Yantang Reservoir, it covers 17,000 square meters and collects 28 genera, 222 species, and more than 4,000 clumps of bamboo, including rare varieties such as Qiongzhuea and Ferrocalamus.
Tour Route：
Main Entrance → Welcome Square → Garden Avenue (Exhibition Center, Flower Clock) → China Hall → Auspicious Peacock Square → Great Greenhouse → Vegetable and Fruit Garden → Bonsai Garden → Herb Garden → International Outdoor Exhibition Area West Zone (Palestine Garden, Vietnam Garden, etc.) → Science and Technology Hall (under renovation and upgrading) → Tea Garden → Cliff Art Square → International Outdoor Exhibition Area East Zone (France Garden, Russia Garden, etc.) → International Hall → Famous Flowers and Artistic Stones Garden → Tree Garden → Man and Nature Hall (under renovation and upgrading) → China Outdoor Exhibition Area (China Splendid Garden) → Huaxia Square → Expo Memory Cultural Experience Area → Bamboo Garden → Main Entrance. The total tour length is about 10 kilometers.
Tour Suggestions：
Choose clear weather for visiting, which is convenient for photographing plant landscapes.
Wear comfortable sports shoes, as the walking distance in the park is long.
Plan your route in advance and give priority to visiting the main exhibition halls and distinctive national exhibition areas.
Rent an audio guide (about 20 yuan per device) to gain a deeper understanding of horticultural culture.
Precautions：
Do not trample on lawns or pick flowers and plants; violators will be fined 50-200 yuan.
Keep your mobile phone and wallet safe, and beware of theft during holidays when there are large crowds.
Children must be supervised throughout the visit; avoid getting close to pools and steep slopes.
In summer, prepare sunscreen and mosquito repellent; in winter, pay attention to wind protection and warmth.
Transportation：
Bus: Take routes 47, 69, 71, 182, 235, A1, etc., and get off at Expo Garden Station.
Subway: Take Metro Line 5 to Expo Garden Station.
Self-driving: Navigate to "Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden"; the park has a parking lot.
Opening Hours：
Monday to Sunday 8:30-17:00. Night opening hours and ticket prices will be announced separately.
Tickets：
Free admission.