Just as plants grow toward the light, we people like to go out and enjoy the spring sunlight and the transient beauty of flowers in this season. Flower viewing has become a custom in spring, and here we present different places where you can see spring blossoms in China.
Beijing - Yulan magnolia
As the capital city, Beijing has been decorated by different flowers and the Yulan magnolia is one of the special ones. The ornamental tree can be seen in gardens and streets, but the most popular are those growing in ancient temples, such as the Dajue and Tanzhe Temples, for hundreds of years.
There are two Yulan magnolia trees that has been in the Tanzhe Temple for over 400 years. People named them "the Two Qiaos," which initially referred to two of the great beauties of ancient China.
Yulan magnolia in Tanzhe Temple. /CFP
Nyingchi - Peach blossom
Tucked in the eastern corner of southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the Nyingchi Prefecture is a wonderful sight for wild peach flowers.
The average altitude of Nyingchi is about 3,100 meters, lower than most of Tibet, and the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon provides warm and wet currents from the Indian Ocean, which have turned Nyingchi into a land with lush trees and flowers.
Despite Nyingchi being named as the "Jiangnan of Tibet",there is no place in Jiangnan - which refers to the Yangtze Delta region in East China - where you can enjoy a view of rosy peach blossoms with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Peach blossoms in Nyingchi Prefecture. /CFP
Nanjing - Plum blossom
Plum Blossom Hill in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, is known as "the best plum hill in the world." The plum trees here are famous for their unique varieties that span over 102 hectares.
The history of planting plum trees in Nanjing City can date back to the Six Dynasties (222-589), which is about 1,500 years ago.
Plum Blossom Hill in Nanjing. /CFP
Wuhan - Cherry blossom
2,000 years ago during the Qin and Han Dynasties, cherry trees had already been planted in the palatial gardens, but compared to the plum or peach blossoms that have often been written about in poetry, the flower was less favored by the ancient Chinese.
The cherry blossom is a rising start among spring flowers, and it can be seen in many cities in China. Wuhan University in Wuhan City is a famous spot for viewing the flowers.
Initially, there were no cherry blossom trees in the school until the Japanese invaders planted over 20 of them during the Second Sino-Japanese War. When the war ended, more of the trees were planted in the school and the city as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Cherry blossoms in Wuhan University. /CFP
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