The Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden was transformed into a nocturnal paradise for families on September 7, as City News Service hosted an exclusive night tour that offered a rare glimpse into the garden's vibrant after-dark ecosystem. Led by Dr Xi Wang, an expert in plant sciences, the event showcased the unique flora and fauna that thrive at night, providing an educational and enchanting experience for participants.
Foreign families enjoy the exclusive night tour at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden with Dr Xi Wang and City News Service.
The night tour started with an interactive plant science class. A highlight was close contact with the world's largest seed, the coco-de-mer, setting the stage for an evening of discovery.
Xi led the visitors through the garden sections, including the Lotus Pond and Fern Garden, with a special stop at the Giant Water Lily pond. Here, participants were invited to close their eyes and inhale the lilies' intoxicating scent, while Xi explained the biology behind the plant's impressive load-bearing capabilities.
Dr Xi Wang invites children to touch a Giant Water Lily.
"These lilies are not just beautiful; they are an incredible example of nature's engineering," Xi said, enhancing the visitors' appreciation of the aquatic marvels.
"The big leaf on the water, and the flower only coming out at night and blossoming for 3 days, this is my highlight for today," said Petra Muensterova, from the Czech Republic.
"I think this event, this guide was very beautiful. For me it was for the first time, for the family, already I think the second time, and we enjoyed it so much," she added.
Alan and Debbie Foster's family are from South Africa, and they said that they thought it would be a nice opportunity for their children to learn about the plants.
"Also being able to see underneath the lily, and how strong it was," said Debbie Foster. "The giant lily pads can hold a human."
Families visit the tropical greenhouse.
The tour also included a visit to the tropical greenhouse, where families encountered carnivorous and desert plants. Xi engaged the children in a scavenger hunt for cactus flowers, turning the tour into an interactive adventure that culminated in small prizes for the younger participants.
Family representatives also shared their motivation for attending the tour.
"We love Chenshan Botanic Garden," said Steven H Back, from Hungary, who has been living in China for 19 years. "We have been coming here for more than 10 years, we come very often."
"It's a beautiful place and nice to get out of very busy Shanghai. I think it's a very unique opportunity to see the garden at night, something we very seldom get to see. The park is empty, there are no visitors and we can see the nightlife of all the plants and all the animals that live in the botanical garden. I think it's a very unique experience."
Another memorable moment for many was seeing closely the interaction between nocturnal insects and black swans, guided by Xi's advice to observe without disturbing the creatures.
A child points out a plant that is blossoming at night.
"The greenhouse with the desert plants, the cacti, and we could observe them blossoming at night. So this is something that we wouldn't be able to see during the day. So I think that was a very nice experience. The local staff also asked us to search for some flowers that are just opening at night, and I think that was a fun activity for the kids especially," Back added.
The evening ended with a train ride back to the entrance, leaving the families inspired and more informed than a few hours earlier. The CNS night tour not only highlighted the beauty and complexity of plant life after dark but also show a deeper connection between the city and the natural world around us.
The Muensterova family told City News Service that they have already become fans of CNS events.
"Actually it's already our second event with you, and each of them was enjoyable and with something special to show us your city and your special things that you have," Petra Muensterova said.