"A sudden spring breeze swept through overnight, bringing thousands of pear tree into bloom," beamed Cen Shen, a poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), in his famous verse, originally describing the heavy snow outside the Great Wall. Not that pear blossoms are as white as snow, but snow is as white as pear blossoms. The holiness of pear blossoms in the eyes of the poet can be seen.
Pear trees have a history of more than 2,000 years of cultivation in China and are widely distributed in southwest's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
Loved by people since ancient times, the pear blossoms that begin to bloom in mid-March is also a feast for the eyes in spring.
At the end of March each year, pear trees bloom on both sides of the valley in Jinchuan County, which stretches for more than 100 kilometers. /CFP
Jinchuan County, located on the plateau in the northwest of Sichuan, southwest China is well-known throughout the country for producing snow pears. At the end of March each year, pear trees bloom on both sides of the valley, which stretches for more than 100 kilometers. Against a backdrop of towering snow-capped mountains and clear blue sky, the blooms there offer unparalleled breathtaking views.
Although in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the annual Pear Blossom Festival has been suspended this year, people can still reserve a schedule slot to enjoy the blossom.
The undulating sea of pear blossoms in Gejiu city staring in mid-March attracts a large number of tourists and photographers to enjoy the flowers and take pictures. /CFP
Gejiu City in southwest China's Yunnan Province is rich in a famous kind of pear called "Lusha." The history of pear tree planting in the city can be traced back to the 1940s. The unique soil and water there is conducive to the development of Lusha pear trees.
The undulating sea of pear blossoms starting in mid-March attracts a large number of tourists and photographers.
People watching a lion dance among pear trees in Zhaoxian County. /CFP
If you missed the pear blossoms in March, Zhaoxian County, Hebei Province, north China is also a good place go.
Zhaoxian County is one of the places producing snow pears in China. In mid-April every year, pear blossoms in Zhaoxian County are in full bloom. This is also the place where many new couples take wedding photos.
Fruit grower taking care of a pear tree in Ningling Pear Orchard in Shangqiu City, Henan Province. /CFP
Legend has it that the Ningling Pear Orchard in Shangqiu City, Henan Province, central China has a century-old history. There is an old pear tree in the garden. It was planted during the Daoguang Emperor's ruling period (1782-1850) of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). The height of the tree is 4.2 meters, the circumference of the crown is 20 meters, and the fruit weight is 350 kilograms per year.
The endless acres of white flowers and butterflies outline a breathtaking picture.
(Top image designer: Li Wenyi.)