The Plant Maze of Zhihuihua Paradise is located in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou. It is a core attraction of Zhihuihua Paradise, about 1.5 kilometers from Xianghu Lake Metro Station, and a 20-minute walk away.
The maze is built with three types of hedges: Viburnum odoratissimum, Ligustrum japonicum ‘Howardii’ and Photinia × fraseri. Viburnum odoratissimum, about 1.8 meters high, serves as the main enclosing walls; Ligustrum japonicum ‘Howardii’ and Photinia × fraseri, 1.2 to 1.5 meters high, separate different areas. The entire maze has a star-shaped layout, covering an area of 15,000 square meters.
It is designed with the theme of 12 zodiac signs. Each zodiac sign has an independent area, distinguished by corresponding plants. For example, the Aries area has large patches of Coreopsis, which turn bright yellow when in bloom; the Pisces area has Jacaranda, which looks like light purple clouds when flowering. The entrance of each area has a metal zodiac sign, engraved with the zodiac date.
The 12 zodiac areas are distributed around a central circular platform. To get from the entrance to the center, you need to pass through 3 to 4 zodiac areas and 18 forks. The central platform is larger than before, with a 12-zodiac distribution map marking the location of each area.
Smart elements are combined with the zodiac theme. The electronic screens in each zodiac area display basic knowledge of that zodiac sign. Visitors can get paper punch cards. After finding the corresponding zodiac area, they can scan the QR code on the sign with their mobile phones to generate electronic stamps on the cards. Collecting 12 stamps allows you to exchange for a small souvenir at the exit.
It usually takes 40 to 60 minutes to walk from the entrance to the center and then find the exit. Children can borrow zodiac-shaped navigation bracelets, and parents can see the zodiac area where their children are located on their mobile phones.
The maze is open for free but requires advance reservation via the “Xianghu Zhihuihua Paradise” official WeChat account. It has a daily limit of 800 visitors. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:00, and entry stops after 17:00.
Surrounding facilities are more complete. There are luggage lockers at the entrance. Within 100 meters, there are zodiac-themed rest pavilions, each in the shape of a corresponding zodiac sign. The canteen in the paradise has snacks with zodiac patterns, such as zodiac-shaped biscuits.
Next to the maze are flower fields and a zodiac-themed footpath. The flower fields grow different flowers according to seasons. The footpath has fluorescent zodiac patterns on the ground, which light up in the evening. You can rent bicycles beside the flower fields and ride around the maze to see the layout of zodiac areas from different angles.
This maze is suitable for children aged 6 to 16. The difficulty is moderate, and finding zodiac signs and collecting stamps can add fun. In the evening, the light strips between the hedges and the fluorescent zodiac patterns on the ground light up together, creating a nice atmosphere.
When visiting Xianghu Lake, you can bring your children here. You can walk through the maze while getting to know the 12 zodiac signs and different plants, which kills two birds with one stone.
This post is also available in Afrikaans, Azərbaycan dili, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Basa Jawa, Bosanski, Català, Cymraeg, Dansk, Deutsch, Eesti, Español, Esperanto, Euskara, Français, Frysk, Galego, Gàidhlig, Hrvatski, Italiano, Kiswahili, Latviešu valoda, Lietuvių kalba, Magyar, Nederlands, O'zbekcha, Polski, Português, Română, Shqip, Slovenčina, Slovenščina, Suomi, Svenska, Tagalog, Tiếng Việt, Türkçe, Íslenska, Čeština, Ελληνικά, Беларуская мова, Български, Кыргызча, Македонски јазик, Монгол, Русский, Српски језик, Татар теле, Українська, Қазақ тілі, Հայերեն, עברית, ئۇيغۇرچە, اردو, العربية, سنڌي, فارسی, كوردی, پښتو, नेपाली, मराठी, हिन्दी, অসমীয়া, বাংলা, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, தமிழ், తెలుగు, ಕನ್ನಡ, മലയാളം, සිංහල, ไทย, ພາສາລາວ, ဗမာစာ, ქართული, አማርኛ, ភាសាខ្មែរ, 日本語, 简体中文, 繁体中文 and 한국어.