Shanghai is one of the world’s modern metropolises with high reputation and status. The new Botanic garden is supposed to be a leading example in terms of plant conservation and scientific research development as well as one of the city’s landmarks. The completion of Chenshan Botanic Garden, Shanghai is envisaged before the operning of EXPO 2010 in Shanghai.

Covering around 202 hectares the site is located in the Chenshan (Hill Chen) in Shanghai Song Jiang District, 20 km from the city centre of Shanghai. There is a national forest park in the northeast and the university campus city of Song Jiang in the south of the site. The national highway 318, connects the new botanic garden directly to the city centre. Three km to the east metro line M9 is momentarily under construction, which will take only half an hour from the garden to Xujiahui, one of Shanghai’s centres.

Sustainability is one main aims for the new botanic garden. Energy saving technologies should be utilized in buildings like the greenhouses, laboratories and the education centre. The use of green materials and renewable energies should be the first choice.