FAIRY Lake Botanical Garden’s price policy remains unchanged and serves as a way to put a quota on visits and protect ecological and botanical resources.

Unlike other parks that have free admission, the botanical garden charges visitors 15 yuan (US$2.33). In a letter responding to deputy Wang Haoyu, who called for the fee cancellations at the annual session of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress, the city’s urban administration said the botanical garden on the foot of Wutong Mountain is a place for scientific research, plant popularization and species preservation. Opening the botanical garden for free may pose a threat to the ecological environment and endangered plants protection.

Fair Lake Botanical Garden receives a total of 4 million visits a year and the urban administration has researched fee cancellation in recent years. Research results showed that selling tickets at appropriate prices is a good way to put a limit on visitors and protect natural resources.

The botanical garden imposes a 15-yuan ticket fee from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with half price for children and the elderly. Considering the needs of residents living nearby, entrance is free between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The park is closed between 9:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.

During holidays like the May Day and National Day holidays, visitors can enjoy a 20 percent discount. Different groups can also enjoy free and half prices on International Women’s Day, China’s Teacher’s Day, International Children’s Day and China’s Youth Day. Students who participate in school-organized scientific activities in the botanical garden enjoy free entry.

(Han Ximin)