Balloon flowers, also known as platycodon, are five-pointed stars shaped flowers native to East Asia, including China and Japan. The plant has swelling balloon-shaped buds, hence the name. In July and August, you can see these beautiful flowers blooming in purple or white color in many areas of Beijing, adding more vitality to the city.
Here are some photos of this beautiful flower blooming in Beijing, a bustling city.
A close-up photo of a balloon flower. / Photo by Ding Qian
The balloon flower is also called Chinese bellflower. / Photo by Ding Qian
The plant is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cough and sore throat. / Photo by Ding Qian
The plant dies down in winter and blooms in summer. / Photo by Ding Qian
A swelling balloon-shaped bud. / Photo by Ding Qian
About 'City of Wild'
Nature is not limited to faraway mountains and oceans, it also exists in urban cities and our daily lives. In the series, "City of Wild," CGTN not only unfolds a world of wildlife you were probably not aware of, but also highlights the theme of this year's CBD COP 15: Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.
For more:
City of wild: The cute sparrows in Beijing
City of wild: Inconspicuous birds with really beautiful melodies
City of Wild: Lovely hoopoes in Beijing
City of wild: Milu deer cool off from the Beijing summer
City of Wild: A pair of spotted doves making home in downtown Beijing
City of Wild: Vigilant white-cheeked starlings in Beijing
City of Wild: Hollyhocks bloom in Beijing summer
City of Wild: Crape myrtle blooms in Beijing's summer
City of Wild: Feeling worried? Let orange daylily drawn your sorrows!
City of Wild: The light-vented bulbuls in Beijing
City of Wild: Mandarin ducks doze off in Beijing
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)