Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded under the leadership of the late eminent botanist Cai Xitao in 1959. Following its separation from Kunming Institute of Botany and its combination with Kunming Institute of Ecology, the new Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden came into being in 1997. It is a comprehensive research institution engaged in scientific research, species preservation, science communication, science&technology development, and a well-known scenic spot as well. 

  With Yunnan Province as its focal working area，Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden probes into the impact of human activities and climate change on ecosystem structures and services as well as endangerment mechanism of species. Effective conservation, sustainable development and the utilization of biological resources are primary goals of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. Its scientific research focuses on forest ecosystem ecology, conservation biology and resource plant development, with 33 research groups related to those research fields aforementioned. 

      Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden’ s 1125-hectare area includes a 250-hectare patch of well-preserved primary tropical rainforest. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden’s excellent preservation of over 13,000 species of plants in its 38 living collections has enhanced its reputation for being one of the most diverse botanical gardens for outdoor plants in the world.   

      Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden hopes to become a first-class botanical garden in the world. It has long been a strategy to emphasize the combination of research and education and interdisciplinary cooperation, and it has developed substantial ties with international organizations and with botanical gardens, universities and academic research institutions in more than 50 countries/regions. Each year, more than 200 foreign scientists come to Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden for international conferences, workshops and training courses or to conduct research or pursue academic degrees.