Flocking to flowers

Petal power propels travel around the capital during the spring season. Xu Lin reports.

Beijing is blooming. And this is luring a growing number of people to its parks and scenic spots to enjoy the fireworks of flowers as they approach full blast.

This is the best time of the year to view such colorful blossoms as mountain peaches, apricots and cherries in the city.

Peng Yang, her husband and their 4-year-old recently visited the capital's Yuyuantan Park to see cherry trees in full bloom. They also invited three families of her daughter's kindergarten classmates.

"The children were curious about nature and enjoyed one another's company," Peng says.

The kids initially tried to pick the prettiest flowers until their parents intervened.

"Then they tried to catch the tiny petals that wafted from the trees with outstretched hands," she says.

"They also enjoyed snapping photos of their favorite flowers. They were so excited to see the yellow winter jasmine that they read its name aloud. They'd just learned about it in class."

They used an app to identify species after snapping photos.

Botanist Shi Jun says: "Parents should learn about the species beforehand so they can teach their kids. If children ask a tough question, they should tell them they don't know the answer rather than pretending."

The Beijinger founded Corn Lab, which popularizes science among children on social media.

He also films short videos introducing plant species.

"Chinese have over the past decade increasingly come to appreciate cherry blossoms, most varieties of which come from Japan," Shi says.

"They're gorgeous in full bloom ... and offer novelty compared with flowers Chinese previously enjoyed."

Ancient people preferred plum and peach blossoms. Peonies were particularly popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Chinese today prefer roses and lilies.

"We have more species than before since many like hyacinths and tulips have been introduced from around the world," Shi says.

He recommends people take a moment to notice the ubiquitous small flowers on roadsides, such as purple Chinese violets.

"These little, colorful flowers are also pretty. But many people neglect them in favor of blooming trees," he says.

Hiking offers an opportunity for outdoorsy types to enjoy flowers plus nature's other offerings, Yicun Travel's founder Wang Jiarui says.

"Mountain peach blossoms are in full bloom on the hills of Beijing's suburbs," she says.

Her agency organizes weekly daylong trips to the capital's countryside.

"Visitors can drive to these places to enjoy the landscapes and delicious meals at farmhouses."

She recently guided a group to Yanqing county's Xiangtun village to hike a section of unrestored Great Wall and the Dayun Valley.

"It's a relatively easy trek. It's suitable for newbies. And it offers panoramic views of the zigzagging wall, beacon towers and flowers," she says.

Yicun is organizing April trips to Pinggu district's annual International Peach Blossom Music Festival. Events include exhibitions, cycling and bungee jumping in scenic spots in the district that's blanketed with over 14,000 hectares of peach blossoms.

Visitors can stroll over 200 meters along a glass bridge spanning two cliffs in the Tianyun Mountains.

Vast swaths of Daxing district's Panggezhuang town will bloom with white pear flowers next month. Ancient trees remain in Lihua village, whose name translates as pear flower. It was the imperial family's designated pear supplier during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Closer to downtown, the Beijing Botanical Garden hosts up to 10,000 flora species. It'll soon host its annual Beijing Peach Flower Festival.

Its mountain peach blossoms reach full bloom a week earlier than what's typical in Beijing.

Yulan Magnolia, forsythia and cornel are also unfolding their petals.

It's the best time to visit the garden.

Entering from the southeast gate leads visitors along a pathway lined with pink blooms.

Walking west takes visitors to the South Lake, where pink mountain peach and yellow winter jasmine blossoms are mirrored in its ripples.

Tulips, Chinese crab apple and cloves will erupt next.

Yuyuantan Park recently launched its annual Cherry Blossoms Culture Festival.

Early warm temperatures caused the first trees to bloom on March 12, the earliest since 2002.

They'll burn white, light pink, light green and dark red for about a month.

The park has trained officers to stop and even fine those who pick flowers. About 70 surveillance cameras keep watch.

The park is hosting a photography contest for those who snap its blooms until May 5. Winners will get between 100 ($14.50) and 2,000 yuan.

It stands to reason that the ancient imperial garden of the Summer Palace presents spectacular patterns of color with the pride of a peacock.

The grounds' elegant garden design earned a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing, after all.

It also hosts traditional pavilions, halls and temples, perched atop and nestled among hills and ponds.

Kunming Lake is wreathed with mountain peaches and Yulan magnolias. Other flowers like peonies will bloom soon.

Indeed, popping petals will continue to color Beijing's allure in the coming weeks.

Contact the writer at xulin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 03/27/2017 page9)