Covering an area of about 230 hectares, the Hangzhou Botanical Garden can be found at the foot of Jade Spring Hill in the northwest end of West Lake in Hangzhou. [Photo by Chai Shijue/Li Zhong/Lai Shunxing/China Daily]

Year-round attraction The botanical garden entices more than 3 million visitors each year, about a million of those in the peak month around Chinese New Year, when plum trees become so coated with blossoms they create a pink-and-white "ocean of flowers". In summer, most flowering plants are resting, but the heat brings out the flame-colored blossoms of Lycoris aurea, popularly known as "naked ladies" because the flowers emerge from the ground on long stems without leafy coverage.

Some of the most formally arranged gardens, especially on small lakes and ponds, become brilliant with red, orange and yellow foliage in the fall. Then, after winter turns the landscapes into silhouettes defined by leafless trees and intriguing sculptures, it's time for Spring Festival and the plum, peach and apricot trees recolor the landscape in pastel pinks and fluorescent reds.

"Spring is also the time our rhododendron garden is full of color," says Yu, and the annual rhododendron festival draws a new wave of admirers for those delicate beauties.

The garden reaches out to the community in other ways. Special events for kids include the Farm Garden, which shows where vegetables come from and how they are grown, and expansive summer-camp activities. For adults, there is a flower show competition during the chrysanthemum season, and how-to programs on bonsai and landscaping.

The garden is open 24 hours, and joggers and others who come outside the ticket-booth hours of 7 am－5 pm get free entry.

Officials say you can see different kinds of wildlife that don't come out during the daytime, including hedgehogs, frogs, snakes, fireflies and moths.

Beat the heat

Summer is a hot time in the garden, but when the heat is oppressive in the middle of the day, there are two inviting places to get away. One is the Fish Jumping at Jade Spring, on the site of an old temple where you can enjoy plenty of shade and watch some black carp. One is more than 50 years old, more than a meter long and weighs about 100 kg.

If only air conditioning will revive you, head to the on-site art museum with several galleries of work by Han Meilin. The famous sculptor has works outside as well as an indoor gallery; other sections of the museum feature his calligraphy, his painting and－to a smaller degree－famous corporate logos and mascots he have designed, such as for Air China and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.