Hangzhou's second botanical garden a green oasis amidst urban splendor

Hangzhou, known for its scenic landscapes, plans to enhance its allure with the construction of a second botanical garden, local media outlets reported.

The project has recently garnered global attention as conceptual planning proposals have been collected, paving the way for the start of construction in the coming months.

The selected proposals promise a botanical paradise that is 4.67 square kilometers in size, over twice as large as the current Hangzhou Botanical Garden. It will be located in the Cloud City, a part of the burgeoning urban center on Hangzhou's western horizon, next to the Hangzhouxi Railway Station, a major transportation hub, and the city's soon-to-be-tallest skyscraper.

The new botanical garden will tap the region's advantageous natural conditions, including many mountains and water bodies, diverse micro-terrain, and fertile soil, and will focus on cultivation, research, education, recreation and gardening.

It is expected to integrate into the urban development of the western city, bringing an environmental contrast to the towering buildings, showing the city's economic prosperity.