Flower power in Beijing's Botanical Garden
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The trees at the base of the mountain sprout buds in vivid spring colors. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com] |
Beijing's flower season continues with the advent of the peach blossoms. The Beijing Botanical Garden is paying tribute to the spring blooming of the peach blossoms with the 23rd Annual Peach Blossom Festival, which runs through the end of April.
While the park was founded in 1956, the Beijing Botanical Garden didn't hit its stride until the economic boom of the 1980s. As the park developed, peach blossoms were chosen to characterize the suburban refuge because of their strong connections with traditional Chinese culture. The park's administration began to collect a range of peach blossom trees from all over China and inaugurated the first Peach Blossom Festival in 1989.
Today, the botanical garden is home to more than 10,000 peach blossom trees from more than 70 varieties, which make up the world's largest collection of ornamental peach blossom trees.
"Ornamental" peach blossom trees are not planted for fruit. Peach blossoms are noted for their rich color, ranging from white to deep pink. Spectators can discern peach blossoms because they have a longer blooming period and more petals than cherry blossoms.
The best time to view peach blossoms is in mid-April. Mountain peach blossoms are the first to bloom, at the beginning of the month, followed by the white peach blossoms, then common varieties.
According to Chinese tradition, spring has arrived when the peach blossoms bloom and the willow trees turn green. But, the Botanical Garden has more than just peach flowers.
"The peach blossom festival is not just an exhibition of peach blossoms, but a carnival for all spring flowers," said Zhao Shiwei, Director of the Beijing Botanical Garden. The garden is filled with vibrant colors as plum blossoms, crabapples, peonies, lilacs, and tulips blossom in a salute to springtime.
"Society is developing so quickly, and people are flooded with all kinds of information," Zhao said. "We hope to provide a peaceful refuge for visitors to relax both mentally and physically."
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