Within Pan-Himalaya Region, Alpine Garden is situated on hillside of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan province, China, at an altitude of 2560 meters high. The 6-hectare site sits close to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Yuhu historic village in north and Baisha historic town in east which can be overlooked from alpine garden. It is created from an ancient Naxi village, which has been abandoned for several decades. This new garden is to showcase the long history of Naxi culture and significant native alpine plants.
A slice of modernism in a rustic environment, Alpine Garden challenges the notion of contemporary design in a rugged alpine site with grand landscape surrounded. Respect for the natural and cultural landscape is evident through the recreation of the derelict site, encouraging the visitors to fully immerse in the humbly designed environment with melt snow water, native vegetation and rich habitat. By preserving onsite heritage, landscape architects were on a mission to redefine visitor experience to attract more people to fund the project to make it economically sustainable.
By blending old Naxi and contemporary design, it serves as a strong educational and interactive landscape place to demonstrate importance of Naxi garden tradition, native plants, rich local stone materials and new spatial experience. It is also the best garden in Lijiang to enjoy the snowcapped glacier and overlook Baisha historic town. In southeast part of the site, the low irrigation and low maintenance wilderness garden in Lijiang is experimentally created and successful so far. The artful amphitheater providing immersive and interactive space for Naxi traditional festivals and outdoor art exhibitions becomes culturally important for local community.