Related News
Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
Sweet dreams of osmanthus linger
By Wu Huixin |
September 18, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THAT sweet scent in the Hangzhou air is most likely osmanthus flowers.
The flowers bloom for a short time in the autumn, so for those so inclined, it's best to seize the day and get out to see them before they are gone.
Osmanthus is the flower of Hangzhou and residents generally have a deep appreciation for the blooms.
During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), poet Bai Juyi, also a mayor of Hangzhou at one time, wrote: "search osmanthus around the temple on the hill in the middle of autumn."
Shanghai Daily recommends eight places featuring lush osmanthus trees with rich perfume.
Manjuelong
In 1984, five organizations including Hangzhou Daily sponsored a vote for the "Ten New Scenes at West Lake." Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong Village was selected as one of the scenes.
Many residents believe Manjuelong is the best point to view and admire osmanthus. There are more than 7,000 osmanthus trees along the mountain paths in Manjuelong, including orange, gold and silver osmanthus.
In Manjuelong Park, 9,000 osmanthus trees await visitors. Drinking a cup of tea or playing mahjong under the fragrant flowers is a popular outing for many locals in autumn.
How to get there: Take bus K4, K504, Y3 or K5, and get off at Hangzhou Zoo.
Hangzhou Botanical Garden
There are 19 species of osmanthus and nearly 10,000 osmanthus trees in Hangzhou Botanical Garden. At least 3,000 of the tress are 60 years old. Osmanthus trees grow very slowly so even older trees may not look much bigger than younger ones.
Address: No. 1 Taoyuanling
How to get there: Take bus K82, K28 or K15, and get off at Hangzhou Botanical Garden.
Hupao
There are plenty of osmanthus trees in Hupao, including one that is 160 years old and another that dates back 210 years near Cuiyue Pavilion.
The water from Hupao Spring seeps out from quartzite and is popular for brewing tea, especially the local specialty Longjing tea.
Locals believe smelling the perfume of osmanthus while drinking Longjing tea is enjoying a leisurely life.
Address: 47 Hupao Road
How to get there: Take bus K4, K315, K504, K527, Y5, K808 or K194, and get off at Hupao.
Hangzhou Flower Nursery
A scenic spot for appreciating osmanthus is Jin Gui Man Qiu (?e1e?ú??) at Hangzhou Flower Nursery. About 100 osmanthus trees are planted there with most of them being native gold osmanthus.
People can have a picnic on the lawn while taking in the view of the osmanthus trees.
Address: 14 Xishan Road
How to get there: Take bus Y1, Y5 or K197, and get off at Hangzhou Flower Nursery.
Lingyin Temple and Li'an Temple
Poet Song Zhiwen wrote about the beauty of the osmanthus trees in Lingyin Temple during the Tang Dynasty. To this day, people still visit this Buddhist temple in the fall to see the flowers.
In autumn, this mountainous area is dotted with osmanthus. People can walk along the paths to Feilai Peak and admire the osmanthus flowers.
Another temple famous for osmanthus is Li'an Temple, which is at the end of Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies. The temple is much smaller than Lingyin, however, the environment is more peaceful.
There is a teahouse beside Li'an Temple; visitors can smell the perfume from the flowers while sipping tea.
? Lingyin Temple:
Address: 1 Fayun Lane
How to get there: Take bus Y1, Y2, Y4, Y13, 7, 807 or 837, and get off atLingyin Temple
? Li'an Temple:
Address: At the end of Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies
How to get there: Take bus Y3, and get off at Yangmeiling.
Zijingang campus of Zhejiang University
Zijingang campus of Zhejiang University has many osmanthus trees. The old and famous campus is worth a visit on its own, so double the pleasure in the fall while the osmanthus flowers are in bloom.
Address: 388 Yuhangtang Road
How to get there: Take bus 10, 74, 89, 93 or 637, and get off at Zijingang campus.
Yuhuang Mountain
Climbing from the foothills to the summit, hikers will find osmanthus trees planted beside the paths. Zilai Cave and Eight Diagrams Field are two scenic spots along the hike.
How to get there: Take bus 27, and get off at Yuhuang Mountain.
Meijiawu (?·?ò??)
Meijiawu features some farm-based eateries to go along with the osmanthus flowers. Weather permitting, the eateries place tables under the trees so diners can enjoy the full effects of the osmanthus perfume in the air.
Address: 1 Meiling Road S.
How to get there: Take bus Y3, or get off at Yuhuang Mountain.
The flowers bloom for a short time in the autumn, so for those so inclined, it's best to seize the day and get out to see them before they are gone.
Osmanthus is the flower of Hangzhou and residents generally have a deep appreciation for the blooms.
During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), poet Bai Juyi, also a mayor of Hangzhou at one time, wrote: "search osmanthus around the temple on the hill in the middle of autumn."
Shanghai Daily recommends eight places featuring lush osmanthus trees with rich perfume.
Manjuelong
In 1984, five organizations including Hangzhou Daily sponsored a vote for the "Ten New Scenes at West Lake." Sweet Osmanthus Rain at Manjuelong Village was selected as one of the scenes.
Many residents believe Manjuelong is the best point to view and admire osmanthus. There are more than 7,000 osmanthus trees along the mountain paths in Manjuelong, including orange, gold and silver osmanthus.
In Manjuelong Park, 9,000 osmanthus trees await visitors. Drinking a cup of tea or playing mahjong under the fragrant flowers is a popular outing for many locals in autumn.
How to get there: Take bus K4, K504, Y3 or K5, and get off at Hangzhou Zoo.
Hangzhou Botanical Garden
There are 19 species of osmanthus and nearly 10,000 osmanthus trees in Hangzhou Botanical Garden. At least 3,000 of the tress are 60 years old. Osmanthus trees grow very slowly so even older trees may not look much bigger than younger ones.
Address: No. 1 Taoyuanling
How to get there: Take bus K82, K28 or K15, and get off at Hangzhou Botanical Garden.
Hupao
There are plenty of osmanthus trees in Hupao, including one that is 160 years old and another that dates back 210 years near Cuiyue Pavilion.
The water from Hupao Spring seeps out from quartzite and is popular for brewing tea, especially the local specialty Longjing tea.
Locals believe smelling the perfume of osmanthus while drinking Longjing tea is enjoying a leisurely life.
Address: 47 Hupao Road
How to get there: Take bus K4, K315, K504, K527, Y5, K808 or K194, and get off at Hupao.
Hangzhou Flower Nursery
A scenic spot for appreciating osmanthus is Jin Gui Man Qiu (?e1e?ú??) at Hangzhou Flower Nursery. About 100 osmanthus trees are planted there with most of them being native gold osmanthus.
People can have a picnic on the lawn while taking in the view of the osmanthus trees.
Address: 14 Xishan Road
How to get there: Take bus Y1, Y5 or K197, and get off at Hangzhou Flower Nursery.
Lingyin Temple and Li'an Temple
Poet Song Zhiwen wrote about the beauty of the osmanthus trees in Lingyin Temple during the Tang Dynasty. To this day, people still visit this Buddhist temple in the fall to see the flowers.
In autumn, this mountainous area is dotted with osmanthus. People can walk along the paths to Feilai Peak and admire the osmanthus flowers.
Another temple famous for osmanthus is Li'an Temple, which is at the end of Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies. The temple is much smaller than Lingyin, however, the environment is more peaceful.
There is a teahouse beside Li'an Temple; visitors can smell the perfume from the flowers while sipping tea.
? Lingyin Temple:
Address: 1 Fayun Lane
How to get there: Take bus Y1, Y2, Y4, Y13, 7, 807 or 837, and get off atLingyin Temple
? Li'an Temple:
Address: At the end of Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies
How to get there: Take bus Y3, and get off at Yangmeiling.
Zijingang campus of Zhejiang University
Zijingang campus of Zhejiang University has many osmanthus trees. The old and famous campus is worth a visit on its own, so double the pleasure in the fall while the osmanthus flowers are in bloom.
Address: 388 Yuhangtang Road
How to get there: Take bus 10, 74, 89, 93 or 637, and get off at Zijingang campus.
Yuhuang Mountain
Climbing from the foothills to the summit, hikers will find osmanthus trees planted beside the paths. Zilai Cave and Eight Diagrams Field are two scenic spots along the hike.
How to get there: Take bus 27, and get off at Yuhuang Mountain.
Meijiawu (?·?ò??)
Meijiawu features some farm-based eateries to go along with the osmanthus flowers. Weather permitting, the eateries place tables under the trees so diners can enjoy the full effects of the osmanthus perfume in the air.
Address: 1 Meiling Road S.
How to get there: Take bus Y3, or get off at Yuhuang Mountain.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
