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Blooming with fragrant possibilities

By Pan Zheng | April 1, 2009, Wednesday | Print Edition

HANGZHOU is in flower, literally, and visitors can enjoy many fragrant possibilities - notably the extravagant peach blossoms, considered the flower of lucky love, writes Pan Zheng.

With winter gone and spring on our doorstep, this is a perfect opportunity to appreciate the famous peach blossoms of Hangzhou, plus cherry blossoms, flowering crab apples, yulan magnolias, azaleas, tulips and more beautiful flora.

Each year around the Qingming Festival (the tomb-sweeping day, this Saturday), the peach blossoms are at the peak along the West Lake. They usually bloom for half a month.

The best and most traditional place to appreciate peach blossoms is Banshan (literally "half hill") in the northeast part of Hangzhou. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279) people have flocked to Banshan at this time of the year to take in the flowery pink landscape.

In China, peach blossoms are associated with long life, luck and love, especially love. It is said that if you meet your lover under the peach blossoms, your love will flower and endure.

On the west side of the hill lies the so-called "Ten-Mile Peach Valley" where peach blossoms will cover the whole hillside. Seen from afar, it seems to be wrapped in pink gauze.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Banshan (then called Gaoting) peach blossoms were considered among the "top three Hangzhou scenes," together with the plum blossoms and the reeds.

If you don't have the time to go to Banshan, you can still appreciate them near the Su Causeway and the Bai Causeway along the West Lake - a scene of peaches and willows.

While peach blossoms are at their prime, there are other blooming options. If you go

Hangzhou Botanical Garden

Northwest of the West Lake, near Taoyuan Hill. It contains more than 3,000 species of plants in 10 zones.

Opening hours: 7am-5:30pm

Address: 1 Taoyuanling

Admission: 10 yuan (free with dinner at Shanzhongshan restaurant)

Transport: Bus No. 15, 16, 21, 28 (get off at Yuquan stop)



Taiziwan Park

Considered one of the most beautiful parks in Hangzhou, it holds a tulip exhibition from March through April.

Opening hours: 8am-4:30pm

Address: 5-1 Nansha?n Road

Admission: Free

Transport: Bus No. K4, K808, Y1, Y2, J5, Y6, Y7, 514 (get off at Su Causeway stop)

Huagang Park

In the southern part of the Su Causeway, it lies between Xili Lake and Xiaonan Lake.

Opening hours: 9am-4:30pm

Address: 5-1 Xishan Road

Admission: Free

Transport: Bus No. K4, Y1, Y9 (get off at Huagangguanyu stop)



Su Causeway

The three-kilometer-long causeway begins at the foot of Nanping Hill and ends in the Qixia Valley. It is lined by peach trees and willows and crossed by six stone bridges. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, "Spring on the Su Causeway" has been considered first among the "Top 10 Sceneries of the West Lake."

Transport: Bus No. 507, 504, K4, Y2 (get off at Su Causeway stop) Cherry blossoms

They are at their best from March 20 to April 10 in Taiziwan Park on Nanshan Road, not far from the city center. It's famous among tourists for its sakura with heavy petals. There's also a cherry blossom zone in the Hangzhou Botanical Garden.

Chinese crab apples

The "princess of flowers" blooms in early April and there's a spectacular display of different varieties at the Hangzhou Botanical Garden.

Peonies

With the Grain Rains (one of the 24 solar terms) coming, the best time to appreciate peonies is approaching as well. The earliest will bloom in coming days. There are two famous spots to see Hangzhou peonies in all colors: Red Fish Pool and the Peony Garden.

Yulan magnolias

The yulan magnolias is so named because it look like yu (jade) and smells like lan (orchid). It blooms from mid-March to early April and can be seen anywhere in Hubingyi Park and Changqiao Park.

Tulips

Early April is the prime time to appreciate multi-colored tulips. A tulip show is underway in Taiziwan Park through April 20.

Azaleas

Mid-April is the prime time to appreciate azaleas, especially the red ones, in Hangzhou Botanical Garden and Manlongguiyu Park.

Hangzhou


 

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