Pear blossoms Descriptions of pear blossoms abound in ancient Chinese poetry. If you pay a visit to Jinchuan County in Sichuan Province’s Ngawa Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture between mid-March and early April, you will surely understand why this flower has inspired so many poets to write down some of their best known works. The sea of delicate white flowers extends hundreds of kilometers to cover terraced fields, hills and valleys, making Jinchuan a snow-white fairyland on earth. Pear trees with hundreds of years of history are common here as the county boasts a long history of pear growing. Dangshan, a county located at the intersection of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces, is also famous for its crispy, juicy pears and mesmerizing pear blossoms. With more than 33,000 hectares of pear orchards, the county is hailed as the capital of pears in China. In 2010, it was recognized by Guinness World Records as the home of the world’s largest stretch of pear orchards. The best time to visit Dangshan is March, when blooming pear blossoms turn the orchards into perfect photo spots. During the monthlong Dangshan Pear Blossom Festival, in addition to admiring flowers visitors can enjoy folk performances and attend lectures given by renowned writers, painters and calligraphers. Azaleas If you prefer flowers of bolder and brighter colors, azaleas may be the flower you are looking for. From late March to late April, blooming wild azaleas on the Wumeng Prairie in Guizhou Province will stretch more than 120 kilometers, forming a vast blanket of different shades of pink and red. Two recommended spots to admire the flowers are the Jinpo and Pudi scenic areas in the city of Bijie, with the former featuring a bridge straddling two mountains on which visitors can get a panoramic view of the sea of flowers. Far, far away from Guizhou, azaleas adorn another prairie in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China. One of the best places on the Hulunbuir Prairie to appreciate azaleas is the White Wolf Peak scenic area in Arxan, located on the southern foot of the Greater Khingan Ridge. After a long winter, vitality returns here as plum and pink azaleas in full bloom once again decorate the snow-capped mountains. Crabapple flowers If you visit Beijing, the capital of China, in spring, there are three flower-themed events you should not miss: the peach blossom festival in the Beijing Botanical Garden, the cherry blossom festival in Yuyuantan Park and the crabapple flower festival in Yuandadu City Wall Relics Park. Built on the ruins of Yuan Dynasty’s (1271-1368) city walls, Yuandadu is now home to Beijing’s largest cluster of crabapple trees, where along a one-kilometer road section on the bank of the Xiaoyue River you will find more than 2,000 crabapple trees of 28 varieties. Find a sunny day and take a walk on the road to indulge yourself in the beauty and fragrance of blooming crabapple flowers — you will experience a sort of comfort to which no other can compare. Another preferred destination for crabapple flowers is Mount Taishan in East China’s Shandong Province. During the month of May, crabapple trees at the foot of the mountain begin to flower and, in gradual steps, pink and white flowers will be seen all over the mountain to add a touch of romance to the verdant mountain which has long been reputed for its majesty.? (Yu Yuanfan)
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