As springtime arrives, festivals get into swing with many activities themed around a variety of blossoms, He Qi reports.
As spring approaches, Shanghai is poised to be adorned with an array of flowers, captivating visitors worldwide with its unique charm. A series of events will offer a front-row seat to the splendor of the season.
The 15th Shanghai Cherry Blossom Festival will be held at Gucun Park from Saturday to April 15.Gucun Park boasts 1,600 mu (106.7 hectares) of planting area with 16,000 cherry trees of 120 varieties, making it the city's largest park for cultivation and a landmark for enjoying cherry blossoms.
This season, the park in Baoshan district introduces a nighttime cherry blossom viewing activity, creating a dreamlike scene with light projections and storytelling.
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"We are collaborating with urban lighting company Shanghai Luoman Technologies to transform the area near the park's No 2 gate into a cherry blossom island with day and nighttime events and light shows," says Liu Chuanbao, general manager of Shanghai Wusongkou Culture Tourism Investment (Group) Co Ltd.
Liu also reveals partnerships with the video-sharing platform Bilibili and social media platform Xiaohongshu to attract visitors and create a new economic highlight with a blend of traditional Chinese and new animation themes. Leveraging the current trend of inbound tourism, Liu mentions plans for cherry blossom cruises as well.
During the festival, four themes with 18 sub-activities will be launched. A cherry blossom-themed consumption season will be introduced, featuring four supporting activities — food, entertainment, nature exploration, and vacation accommodations, catering to tourists' diverse needs.
Chen Peng, deputy director of Baoshan district's Commission of Commerce, says: "Through this festival, we aim to enhance Baoshan's consumption vitality and elevate its image."
Li Yong, Gucun Park's greenery supervisor, highlighted that varieties like Tairyo-zakura (Dayu Ying) and Kawazu-zakura (Hejin Ying) are currently in full bloom. Late March to early April will witness the peak bloom of varieties such as Somei Yoshino (Ranjing Jiye Ying), creating a breathtaking spectacle. Late April will usher in the blooming period for late-variety cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossom enthusiasts like Min Na have already visited Gucun Park to admire the scenery. "The cherry blossoms are beautiful, perfect for hanfu photoshoots, which turn out wonderfully."
The Shanghai Jing'an Flower Festival, or Huazhao Festival, in the Daning Function Zone has also garnered attention.
Running until March 30, this festival coincides with the blooming period of spring flowers in Daning Park, including cherry blossoms, crab apples, magnolias, and approximately 12,000 square meters of tulips. The festival combines traditional culture with modern aesthetics, featuring themed areas such as flower fields, cultural heritage markets, and traditional costume displays.
For the first time, the festival has introduced hanfu photo shoots. Visitors can wear traditional attire and join 12 "flower goddesses" to stroll flower-lined paths, immersing themselves in the elegance of ancient times.
An American employee in the Daning Function Zone nicknamed Liya says: "I'm thrilled to wear beautiful hanfu and take photos. I'd share them on TikTok to showcase the charm of traditional Chinese culture."
From March 15 to 21, the flower festival's sports week will feature the 2025 Shanghai Jing'an Half Marathon, held on a traditional Chinese-style track that complements the Flower Festival's themed ancient route. From March 22 to 30, the marriage week will focus on young people's dating needs, hosting traditional wedding ceremonies and social events.
Moreover, major commercial complexes like Daning Music Plaza and Shanghai Jiuguang Center will launch themed activities, with discounts in catering, retail and cultural sports.
"We aim to deepen the integration of culture, tourism, sports, and exhibitions in Jing'an district through this festival," says Mao Lipeng, deputy director of the Jing'an Daning Function Zone Management Committee.
The Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau announces that this spring, six types of flowers — white magnolias, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, peonies, crab apples, and roses — have been selected as the main attractions. Parks with large planting areas and diverse varieties will serve as primary display zones.
From March to April, street corners will also be adorned with flowers.
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Xujiahui Park in downtown Xuhui district, one of Shanghai's top 10 park-plant zones last year, has 101 white magnolia trees planted across 700 square meters. The flowers typically bloom in early March.
Century Park in Pudong, with plum blossom culture at its core, features five plum garden scenic spots, creating a grand area blending Chinese and Western styles. Gulf (Haiwan) Forest Park's plum garden has over 40,000 plum trees of 126 varieties.
Gu Yi Garden, also one of Shanghai's top 10 park-plant zones last year, has a peony garden featuring hundreds of varieties that showcases white, red, pink, and yellow peonies, fully embodying the Chinese aesthetic of "peonies as the true national beauty".
Contact the writer at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn
