Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden | Must-Visit Attractions

1. Hongfa Temple
The most popular Buddhist temple in Shenzhen, featuring red walls and golden tiles with a solemn and ancient atmosphere. Perfect for blessings and making wishes.
• Highlights: Free incense is available inside the temple, and you can enjoy a panoramic view of Fairy Lake from the hill behind the temple.

2. Fairy Lake
• A landmark lake in Shenzhen surrounded by picturesque mountains and waters. Activities include boating and feeding fish, with black swans gathering by the lakeside.
• Photo spots: The boardwalk on the island in the lake, Nine-Bend Bridge (black swan gathering area), and the reed clusters by the lakeshore.

3. Desert Plant Zone
• Best time for photography: Sunny afternoons when the sunlight highlights the textures of the succulents.

4. Pavilion Hidden in Bamboo Forest
• Highlights: A traditional Chinese pavilion nestled among bamboo groves, featuring green bricks and gray tiles reminiscent of Jiangnan gardens.
• Recommended route: Walk along the stone path from the bamboo area entrance to Hongfa Temple, enjoying the unique scenery of swaying bamboo shadows along the way.

Transportation Guide

1. Metro + Walking
• Metro: Take Line 2 to Xianhu Road Station (Exit B2), then walk along Liantang Road for about 1.5 kilometers (approximately 20 minutes) to the north gate of the botanical garden.
• Taxi/Driving: Navigate to "Fairy Lake Botanical Garden North Gate Parking Lot" or "South Gate Parking Lot."

2. Bus
• North Gate: Take routes 382, 218, or M526 to "Fairy Lake Botanical Garden" station.
• South Gate: Take routes 113 or 387 to "Fairy Lake Botanical Garden Terminal."

Tickets and Reservations
• Tickets: General admission is 15 RMB (half-price for students and seniors), free for children under 1.2 meters.
• Reservations: Advance booking is required via the "Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden" WeChat public account (time-slot entry). No tickets are sold on-site.
• Opening hours: 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM (last entry at 8:00 PM).

One-Day Itinerary
Route 1: Classic Cultural and Natural Route
1. Enter through the North Gate → Hongfa Temple (blessings) → Deng Xiaoping Statue → Fossil Forest → Desert Plant Zone → Fairy Lake boating.
Route 2: Relaxed Photography Route
2. Enter through the South Gate → Pavilion Hidden in Bamboo Forest → Cactus and Succulent Plant Zone → Nine-Bend Bridge (black swans) → Fairy Lake sunset.

Nearby Activities
• Hongfa Temple Vegetarian Experience: The temple offers free vegetarian meals (donations are welcome), but you need to queue in advance.
• Wutong Mountain Combo: Fairy Lake Botanical Garden is only 3 kilometers from Wutong Mountain, making it ideal for a combined visit (reserve one full day).
• Fairy Lake Reflection: After rain or early in the morning, the calm lake surface creates a "sky mirror" effect. Use a telephoto lens to compress the spatial perspective for stunning shots.

Fairy Lake Botanical Garden offers a grassland experience reminiscent of Xinjiang's vast plains. The large lawn surrounded by towering cedar trees feels like being in Ili, Xinjiang! Perfect for photography.