Flower Power in Beijing's Botanical Garden
By admin on 2015-01-29

A white peach blossom tree blooms in front of the Beijing Botanical Garden's Visitor Center. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]

"Meihua," or plum blossoms, line the shores of the lake at the Beijing Botanical Garden.

The greenhouse at the Beijing Botanical Garden houses a variety of tropical plants.

White peach blossoms are in full bloom at the Beijing Botanical Garden. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.

White peach blossom trees are covered in spring flowers at the Beijing Botanical Garden.

Some of the park's deep pink peach blossoms already have arrived, although the best time to see the blossoms is mid-April.

By Angela Pruszenski

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."

The lake behind the Beijing Botanical Garden's Visitor Center is a popular place for couples to relax in the park.

Visitors can spend plenty of time at the festival strolling along the garden's tree-lined paths, although several activities have been scheduled, including two quirky, unique events. An exhibition of artwork made from peach pits will be held later this month. In addition, lonely singles in Beijing will have a chance to find love in the park. According to Chinese tradition, peaches are associated with "good luck in adventures with women." Singles hoping to harness the romantic power of the peach can attend the park's blind date event for a chance at spring love.

This year's peach blossom festival theme is "A Peach Blossom Garden in the City." Zhao explained that "city" refers to Beijing, and the quote refers to the work of the ancient Chinese poet Tao Yuanming. Tao wrote about people's lives in Utopia in a piece entitled "Notes of the Peach Garden." Now peach blossom gardens are seen as peaceful retreats from the noisy city.

Most of the 3 million visitors to the park each year are Chinese and foreigners who live in Beijing, Zhai said.

"Tourists who come to Beijing mainly focus their attention on the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and Great Wall, and many don't know about the Beijing Botanical Garden," he said.

Few would disagree that the garden provides a serene and relaxing escape from Beijing's increasingly crowded downtown areas, especially with the approaching summer weather. During Beijing's hottest months, the gardens are known to stay a few degrees cooler than the rest of the city. A hike through the garden's Cherry Valley takes visitors into the shade of lofty trees hundreds of years old and along the valley's bustling stream.

Whether you are a flower or photography enthusiast or just seeking some fresh air after a long, dry Beijing winter, a visit to the Botanical Garden for the Peach Blossom Festival can help put some "spring" in your step.