Spring is usually the time of year to be outdoors to enjoy the colors of nature. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made things rather different this year in China even though some scenic spots have reopened under "prudent" safety guidelines.
Major blossom attractions in the capital city Beijing are requesting that visitors book tickets online. They are also starting to limit entry once the number of visitors reaches 40 percent of the site's normal flow.
The so-called "flower blossom economy" has become a major pillar of the tourism sector over the years. And it's not just within China.
The Chinese people's love for flowers has made the phenomenon beneficial for overseas destinations as well.
A case in point is Japan. Last spring, some 63 million Chinese tourists visited Japan to admire the cherry blossoms. The tourists contributed some 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in direct consumption to Japan's tourism sector.
This year, however, because of the pandemic, Chinese flower lovers are more likely to choose domestic destinations.
Some 63 million Chinese tourists visited Japan to admire the cherry blossoms in 2019. /VCG
Ms. Zhou is a travel lover in Beijing. She often traveled abroad during spring breaks to see blossoms. This year, she only ventured to some small parks close to her home where there are not many visitors.
Ms. Ma, a senior citizen, gave up plans to visit big parks or famous scenic spots as she did in the past. Instead, she took daily walks around her community. To her surprise, she found the scenery to be quite enjoyable.
And for those who stay at home, appreciating spring blossoms online is a fun and novel alternative. A number of flower-themed promotions have been launched on travel platforms and social media.
For instance, a month-long spring blossom streaming program is attracting millions of viewers every day on the popular short video platform TikTok. The program offers live-streaming from different locations in China. It takes the audience on a cloud journey to see spectacular views and learn about local customs, with real-time interactions.
"I saw people from all parts of China loading beautiful pictures and videos of flowers," Zhou said. "I hope the pandemic will be over soon, so I can travel to those places."
Whether you choose to stay at home for a virtual experience or come out and bask in the sun, this year's flower economy is blossoming in a special way at a special time. The tourism industry is waiting to embrace its spring when the worst of the pandemic is over.
Even in extraordinary times like this, Mother Nature always finds its own way to remind us that the best is yet to come.