A conference to mark the initiation of the second stage of construction work on the Jingdong Subtropical Botanical Garden was held in Pu'er on March 31, according to the city's newspaper.

Speaking at the conference, the deputy Party chief of Pu’er, Hu Kun, said that the first stage construction work of the garden has made progress and has laid a good foundation for subsequent construction work.

Hu also claimed that the construction working group should strengthen their cooperation with the Xishuangbanna Subtropical Botanical Garden to solve the problems that have arisen during the construction period.

According to official statistics, the garden is expected to take up an area of 867 hectares and cost 870 million yuan ($139.11 million). A total of 17 special zones are expected to be constructed in the garden, including a Camellia Zone. After completion, 5,000 to 10,000 tropical plants will be planted in the garden.

The firs-stage construction work of Jingdong garden started on Oct 1, 2012.

Edited by Jacob Hooson