Hydrangea show brings a sea of blossoms to Hangzhou

Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province opened its inaugural hydrangea flower show on May 20, turning the city into a colorful floral destination filled with blooming hydrangeas throughout early summer. The show will run until June 28, offering residents and visitors weeks of immersive flower-themed experiences.

This year's show connects several major exhibition areas across the city, transforming Hangzhou into a garden rich with fragrance and vibrant seasonal scenery. Among them, the Wushan Mountain scenic area stands out as the centerpiece of the event, featuring a series of installations inspired by Song Dynasty (960-1276) aesthetics and traditional cultural elements.

One of the event's most talked-about attractions is a giant orange cat installation inspired by the real mountain cats known to inhabit Wushan Mountain. Created with preserved hydrangeas, coconut fiber and other eco-friendly materials, the artwork has quickly become a favorite photo spot for visitors. Another highlight combines traditional Chinese bamboo weaving – an intangible cultural heritage craft – with waves of hydrangeas to recreate the surging tides of the Qiantang River in a striking floral display.

Beyond the flower exhibitions, the flower show is also offering a wide range of cultural activities during its run. Visitors can take part in outdoor sketching sessions, traditional parade performances, immersive Song Dynasty-style wedding shows, handmade sachet workshops featuring intangible cultural heritage techniques, and public lectures introducing hydrangea cultivation and floral culture, offering a fresh way for visitors to experience the charm of Hangzhou in early summer.