Nanyang to build a World Botanical Grand View Garden

With a total investment of 15 billion yuan ($2 billion), a Funiu Mountain World Botanical Grand View Garden will be built in Nanyang, Henan province.

Experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chinese Academy of Sciences endorsed the garden's preliminary construction plan after a discussion on Sept 20.

Located in west Henan, Funiu Mountain lies in the transition zone between subtropical and warm temperate zones. It is not only the watershed of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Huaihe River, but also serves as the water source of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

Dubbed a Species Gene Pool, the mountainous area ranks first in the province in terms of forest coverage and biological diversity. It is home to more than 3,000 wild vascular plants, 70 mammals, 270 birds, and 5,000 insects, seven of which are listed as first-class national protected animals, and 44 of which are listed as second-class national protected animals.

Covering 2,100 square kilometers, the proposed garden will stretch across Wolong and Wancheng districts, as well as Neixiang, Xixia, Nanzhao, Xichuan, Zhenping, and Fangcheng counties.

It is positioned as a scientific research center, and will host a large greenhouse botanical garden cluster, a dinosaur relic and cultural exhibition zone, a natural resource museum, and a plant and animal specimen exhibition hall.

The project is of great importance to the preservation and utilization of the rich ecological resources of Funiu Mountain. It will also promote rural rejuvenation in the area, according to an official of the Henan Provincial Department of Forestry.