info@absolutepanda.comOur Expert:Plant Lover Li Lun by LOOKING WEST TO CHENGDU
Photo by Chengdu Plus
In medical terms, the Chinese word “zhiwuren” meaning ‘plant man’ refers to someone in a vegetative state.But for Chengdu local, Li Lun, ‘Plant Man’ means someone who is fascinated with plants like him.How deep is their love for plants?What rare plants will he find in Chengdu and its neighboring mountains?
In the beginning of the 20th century, Ernest Henry Wilson, a world-renowned British naturalist had visited China 4 times between 1899 and 1911 for plant hunting. He was the one who found the Western Garden in China. The purpose of his second expedition was to look for a mysterious alpine flower in Sichuan province.
Wilson recorded what he saw at Balang Mountain, over 100 km away from Chengdu, in his book A Naturalist in Western China, published in 1913. It fascinated a Chengdu local who is crazy about plants.
Two years ago, Li Lun’s childhood dream came true: building his own private garden in the city. His life became colorful thanks to over 200 plants on the balcony.Li Lun joined a Chengdu tour company in 2016.Thanks to the rich plant resources, he works as a plant guide.
Mike is a plant lover from the U.S.He contacted Li Lun via the internet, hoping to see some special plants in Chengdu.Li Lun took Mike out of Chengdu to Pengzhou.The over one-hour drive took them from plains to mountains.The varied landscape had something wonderful awaiting them.
Li Lun took Mike deep into the valley.The dense plantation and moist cliffs make an ideal habitat for Primula pengzhouensis.On the 1,100 meters high Karst cliffs, were many Primula pengzhouensis.
Primula pengzhouensis is particular about its living environment. It grows in limited areas and only 500 individual plants have been discovered so far. Li Lun witnessed the whole process from when it was first discovered in 2015 to its naming in 2017.
Plants are everywhere. They are the forests you see from mountain tops. They are weeds on both sides of the city streets.They are flowers hiding dark karst caves.They are leaves floating in rivers.In a garden-city like Chengdu, every plant is awaiting discovery and exploration.
Click the above video to know more.
