Shanghai plans to build a new botanical park, which will be three and a half times larger than the current Shanghai Botanical Garden, according to the local greenery administrative bureau. 

The park, to be located in suburban Songjiang District, will cover an area of 2.1 million square meters, the bureau said.

'A world-class botanical garden, which boasts a rich number of plant species and multiple functions, is important for enhancing Shanghai's image as an international city,' said Gao Xiangwei, a spokesman for the bureau.

He said the existing botanical garden, which was founded in 1978, has been surrounded by residential buildings, and has no further space for expansion.

Colors will play a vital role in designing the layout of the new park. Plants and flowers will be placed in separate scenic regions according to their different colors. 'There will be white, red, blue and golden theme gardens,' Gao said.

A collection and protection center for rare and endangered plant species will also be established in the park, and display some of the world's most precious plants.

Construction of the park could take five to 10 years.

2005/01/17
Source: Shanghai Daily