With the arrival of the traditional Chinese Tomb-sweeping Day, it marks the highpoint of the spring season in China. It is a festival to hold memorial ceremonies for their ancestors and it is also the great time to venture outside to embrace nature as a good sign for a better life on the horizon. This is why the day is also referred to as “Taqing” which means “hiking in grean”.
In this charming season, it is the great time to enjoy the beauty of the new flowers in bloom. The kingly peony, the golden cole flowers, the elegant cherry blossom and many others bloom throughout China. The cultural surroundings also add greater joy when walking through an ocean of flowers.
Penoy in Luoyang, Henan Province
Peony, called the regal flowers, has been favored by Chinese people for more than 1,500 years since the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907). The city of Luoyang is filled with 40 million peonies of 1,000 different species that you could see in more than 10 scenic areas such as Luoyang National Park, China National Flower Park and Suitang Arboretum.
From April 5 to May 5, 2013, the China Luoyang Peony Cultural Festival which has been designated as a state-level intangible cultural heritage will be held.
If you go:
- There are various products made by the peony flower that are worth buying, such as peony wine, peony essential oil and peony tea.
- Try the traditional Luoyang Water Banquet, which is composed of 24 soup dishes with a varied assortment of flavors.
- Pay a visit to the world-famous Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, which features 2,345 caves with some 100,000 Buddha statues.
- The legendary Shaolin Monastery is just 49 kilometers from Luoyang.
Peach Blossom in Nyingchi, Tibet
Nyingchi, called the “Switzerland of Tibet”, is blessed with a semi-humid climate and fascinating scenery.
On Mar. 23, 2013, the Tibet Autonomous Region kicked of its 11th Peach Blossom Festival in Southeast Tibet’s Nyingchi Prefecture.
If you go:
- Various activies will be launched at the bank of the Nyang River, such as family-style dinners, ethnic Tibetan sport activities, Gongbo wedding ceremonies and photography exhibitions.
- Tibet’s peak tourist season starts from this peach festival.
- Visitors should not miss the highlights in Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Tingri and EBC.
Cherry Blossoms of Kunming, Yunnan Province
Located in the northeast corner of Kunming, Yunnan Province, Yuantong Hill is the most popular park in the city. From the late February to the middle of April, millions of cherry and crabapple blossoms scatter in the 18,000 square meter area. The flowers here look like bells hanging on branches, swaying with the wind while exuding an intoxicating scent.
Next to the sea of flowers is a zoo, which features more than 500 species of animals, and is always a popular family attraction.
On the hill there is also Yuantong Temple, the town’s largest Buddhist temple. Visitors can enjoy the charm of Tang Dynasty architecture while making wishes to Buddha.
If you go:
- Opening hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
- Bus No 4, 59, 74, 83 and 101 takes you to Yuantong Hill.
- Try famous Yunnan dishes such as rice noodles, braised chicken with brown sauce and steaming pot chicken.
- Other scenic spots worth visiting in Kunming include Dianchi Lake and the World Horticultural Exposition Garden.
Colo Flowers in Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province
Dubbed China’s most beautiful countryside, Wuyuan turns into a huge yellow gem in Jiangxi province during spring. A blooming sea of golden cole flowers dotting the land surrounding time-battered grey brick houses compose a vista resembling those of traditional Chinese brush paintings.
Jiangling is the village with the most concentrated land of cole flowers. The Likeng has been able to preserve the appearance of the original Hui-style village.
If you go:
- Wuyuan does not have a train station or airport, but many buses provide transportation to the village.
- The weather changes constantly in Wuyuan during spring so make sure you pack plenty of clothes and an umbrella.
- There are several things in Wuyuan worth buying, including tea, tea cake, ink stone, bamboo shoots and camphorwood products.
- There are many private hostels within these old villages which are clean and cheap.
- Old villages are scattered throughout Wuyuan. The best way to travel is to rent a car. You can also take a taxi or a motorbike.
If you are thinking about visiting the top spring destinations in China, you could have a look at our Top 10 China Tours. If you need some advice or have any questions, please feel free to contact your travel consultants who are here ready to make your dream come true.
