Hunan Forest Botanical Garden opens to tourists for free on May 31

Hunan Forest Botanical Garden in Changsha offers free entry to visitors on May 31 in celebration of its 33rd anniversary, Changsha Evening News reported.

Both locals and tourists who follow the garden's public WeChat account are able to visit the garden on that day completely hassle-free, or they can go to the north or west gates to get a ticket.

Approved by the Hunan provincial government, the botanical garden was founded on May 31, 1985, and was designated as a rescue and breeding center for wildlife by the former Ministry of Forestry in 1994.

The 140-hectare arboretum is now home to a collection of more than 4,000 species of flora and 112 species of fauna, including the cathaya and the yellow-bellied tragopan, which are under first-grade state protection.

With flower exhibitions staged throughout the year, the garden has become a popular place for relaxation and is known as a natural oxygen bar in downtown Changsha.