Hi, Kunming: Botanist builds edible-plant garden

Early summer saw pink geraniums, purple lavender and roses blooming at botanist Shangguan Fazhi's house in central Yunnan’s Kunming city. About 100 species of edible plants grow in his 30-square-metre yard.

"Biodiversity exists not only in nature, but it can also be found in my backyard. The spices and ingredients here make it possible for me to enjoy delicacies and drinks without leaving home,” Shangguan said.

Distinguishing his garden from others, he labeled every plant in the garden with a name tag. The genus and family of the plants were marked in Chinese and Latin.

A renowned scientist in the field of spice, Shangguan served in October 2021 as a curator of the Yunnan Specialties Exhibition at the first phase of the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, presenting over Yunnan100 spices to the world.

Biodiversity conservation benefits the humanity. "All of us can create a bright and biologically diverse space at home during the Covid pandemic, on the balcony or at a room corner," said Shangguan.

Reporting by Hu Chao(Xinhua Net); Photos by Zhou Lei; Trans-editing by Li Jingshuo and Mo Yingyi