When winter waned and spring comes, the whole of Shanghai will welcome the blossoms of a flower that is considered elegant and brilliant by most of the people who have seen it. The white Chinese magnolia, with its big flower and sweet fragrance, will thrive in different parts of Shanghai, decorating the city by its pure white.

The Chinese magnolia is also known as the Yulan magnolia. Native to central and eastern China, the flower has a long cultivation history. The white species was first planted in the Buddhist temple, because the delicate beauty and pure white color was related with the religious belief of Buddhism. Later, literates usually compared it as an exquisite beauty to praise the elegance of the flower.

On October 25, 1986, in the poll of choosing the "Flower of the City", the white Chinese magnolia finally won the title. Being loved by local residents, it became the official representative of Shanghai Municipality.

Actually, the Chinese magnolia is not the only flower that blooms in Shanghai's spring season, but why Shanghai people are all fond of this flower?

The reason is hidden in the cultivation story of Chinese magnolia in Shanghai.

Because of local climate, the Chinese magnolia can thrive in the early spring before most of the flowers grow their first buds. The big flowers bloom upwards, diffusing the fragrance into the air as a symbol of pioneering and progressive spirit. Thus, the impression embeds in local people's mind, and makes the flower a beautiful icon of the city.

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest, China boasts an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most representative flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local geography and climate.

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Jia Jieqiong)

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