Butterfly Garden — Painted FRP Butterfly Sculptures for City Park Nature Trail

When the Hangzhou Municipal Parks Bureau planned a new educational nature trail through Xixi National Wetland Park, they wanted art that would teach visitors about local butterfly species while enhancing the natural landscape. Y Sculptures was commissioned to create a series of five life-size FRP painted butterfly sculptures that appear to have landed naturally throughout the wetland garden.

Project Background

Xixi National Wetland Park, a UNESCO-listed wetland reserve on the outskirts of Hangzhou, attracts over 2 million visitors annually. The new “Butterfly Discovery Trail” was designed to educate visitors about local butterfly biodiversity and the importance of wetland ecosystems for pollinator species.

Rather than traditional interpretive signage alone, the Parks Bureau wanted three-dimensional sculptures that would create “moments of discovery” along the trail — butterflies perched on branches, resting on leaves, and clustered at a simulated mud-puddling station. “We wanted visitors to experience the joy of spotting a butterfly,” the project lead explained. “That little thrill when you notice something beautiful that was always there, hidden in plain sight.”

Design Concept

Five species of butterflies native to the Xixi wetland were selected for representation: the Chinese Peacock (Papilio bianor) with its iridescent green-black wings, the Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon) with distinctive blue-green bands, the Red Lacewing (Cethosia biblis) with striking orange-red and white patterns, the Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) in its dramatic black-and-red form, and the Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha) in delicate sky-blue.

Each butterfly was sculpted at life-size or slightly larger (wingspan ranging from 0.8 to 2.0 meters depending on species) and mounted on slender stainless steel stems that blend with natural vegetation. The sculptures appear to have alighted on branches, reeds, and flowers along the trail, with careful positioning to create natural-looking groupings and flight paths.

The painted finish was the most critical element. Y Sculptures’ artists used entomological reference photographs to match wing patterns with scientific accuracy — including the subtle iridescence of the Chinese Peacock’s hindwings, achieved through layered translucent paints over a metallic base.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge 1: Lightweight Construction for Delicate Appearance. Butterfly wings must appear thin and delicate while being durable enough for outdoor conditions. We used a sandwich construction: thin FRP skins (2mm) over a foam core, creating wings that are both lightweight and rigid.

Challenge 2: Color Fading in Sunlight. The vibrant wing colors demanded exceptional UV protection. Each painted layer was sealed with UV-blocking clear coat, and we provided a color chart so the Parks Bureau can touch up any fading after 3-5 years.

Challenge 3: Natural Placement. The sculptures needed to look organically placed without damaging the wetland vegetation. Mounting stems were designed as slender painted stainless steel rods anchored into discreet concrete footings hidden in the undergrowth, allowing the butterflies to appear naturally perched.

Project Details

Why Choose Y Sculptures

This project demonstrates Y Sculptures’ expertise in realistic painted animal and insect sculptures for natural environments. Our ability to combine entomological accuracy with durable outdoor construction makes us a leader in interpretive trail art.

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