In a burgeoning trend across China, smart technology is redefining how individuals engage with nature, particularly through innovative mobile applications that facilitate plant identification and education.

A typical day in the Changbai Island forest park, located along the Hunhe River in Dalian, features families exploring the vibrant flora, with smart devices enhancing their experiences.

During a family outing under the spring sun, Qu Qing, a resident of Shenyang City, utilized an AI-enabled mobile app to identify wildflowers.

By simply photographing a cluster of violet blooms, she was able to discover the plant's name, 'orychophragmus violaceus,' commonly known in Chinese as 'zhuge cai.' Her five-year-old son’s astonished reaction highlighted the app's educational potential.

Qu noted the convenience of modern technology compared to traditional methods, stating, "Before, if we didn't recognize a plant, we had to look it up in books.

Now, I just snap a photo, and AI tells me its name, traits, even medicinal uses." The applications not only provide identification but also present poetic references and cultural anecdotes related to each plant, enriching the user experience.

The plant-identification app 'Xingse' exemplifies this trend, with capabilities to recognize over 4,000 plant species with over 98% accuracy.

The app has garnered more than 530,000 reviews on Apple's App Store in China, with an impressive average rating of 4.9 stars.

Another widely-used application, 'Flower Companion,' allows users to input images of plants for identification based on distinctive features like flowers, leaves, or fruits.

Concurrently, Chinese AI developers are utilizing deep neural networks and extensive databases of labeled plant images to enhance the recognition capabilities available to users.

As flower-viewing tourism expands, these applications are evolving to include recommendations for nearby flowering locations and social features that allow users to share experiences and images, enhancing community interaction around nature.

Furthermore, companies are increasingly focusing on plant health management through technology.

The 'AI・Flower' WeChat mini-program, launched by a tech firm in Fujian, equips novices with tools to diagnose and treat plant ailments by uploading photos for AI analysis.

This initiative aims to simplify traditional gardening practices and encourage more individuals to cultivate plants.

Chairman Zheng Zexin remarked on the company’s goal to democratize gardening knowledge, stating, "We hope to use technology to solve long-standing challenges in traditional gardening, lower the barriers to entry, and let everyone experience the joy of growing plants." Additionally, the program is set to feature an intelligent care module that helps track plant growth and sends reminders for care routines based on environmental conditions.

The integration of technology in nature-related activities is fostering a deeper connection between people and the environment.

Users have articulated that the advancements serve as a 'botanical wiki' on their smartphones, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the diverse plant life around them.