A guide to enjoying the spring flowers in Pingba, the "world's largest cherry blossom base", without having to go to the crowded Wuhan!
Preface
Cherry blossoms bloom on the roadside, willows green by the pond; amidst the chirping of swallows, another year of longing arrives. Cherry blossoms symbolize love and hope, passionate, pure, and noble. Like an innocent girl, they quietly bloom in spring, their branches covered in white and pink. The wind brings love to the beloved. But if the cherry blossoms fell at a speed of 5 centimeters per second, how long would it take for two hearts to grow close?
The largest cherry blossom base
my country's southwest region is one of the birthplaces of cherry blossoms, but perhaps many people did not expect that the world's largest cherry blossom base is in Guizhou.
Spanning the cities of Guiyang and Anshun, Pingba Farm sits on the shores of Hongfeng Lake, a pearl of the plateau. It boasts over 6,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of cherry blossoms, home to nearly 700,000 rare cherry trees. These trees are divided into numerous islands by Hongfeng Lake, offering a variety of scenic views. Cycling or hiking are available, but either way, the scenery is truly romantic.
Picture @Guo Jing
This newly popular cherry blossom viewing spot has the most romantic road to spring. Walking through the pink and white cherry blossom forest, the occasional breeze carrying a tranquil fragrance collides with spring and scatters bursts of cherry blossom rain.
Picture @ Shenzhen Cai Ge
Ten thousand cherry trees, supported by the rolling hills of the farm, resemble pink and white waves from afar, extending all the way to the shores of Hongfeng Lake. Adjacent tea plantations, the fragrance of tea blends with the fragrance of flowers, adding a unique touch to the cherry blossoms. As the largest flower and seedling cultivation base in Guizhou Province, Pingba Farm also features over ten other scenic tree species, including osmanthus, red maple, camphor, cedar, magnolia, and Michelia. Visitors can also enjoy over 2,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of tea and over 3,000 mu (approximately 1,000 acres) of peach trees.
Enjoy Pingba Cherry Blossoms
/Preparation for admission/
Or follow the "Guiyang Local Treasure" public account and enter "Pingba" in the dialog box to obtain relevant information.
/Recommended routes/
Main Gate - Sightseeing Bus or Bicycle - Cherry Blossom Square - Cherry Blossom Garden - Cherry Blossom Garden - Flower Rain Island
Huayu Island is not only less crowded, but also has a super beautiful tea garden. Avoid the crowds and take photos slowly. When you pass Huayu Island, there is a small bridge next to the lake, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes, mountains and willow branches. The scenery is beautiful~
Tips:
Citizens and tourists must present their "reservation code + itinerary code + health code" and wear masks to enter the park. Before entering the scenic area, please cooperate with the scenic area staff to complete temperature measurement, smart code scanning and other epidemic prevention and control measures.
/Anti-crushing tips/
1. Avoid weekends! On weekdays, it's best to drive in before 7:30 PM. Arrive late, as traffic can be very congested and parking is hard to come by (or consider taking a taxi).
2. Navigate to "Yinguan", where you can see a tea garden with windmills. Cars can drive in here, as Yinguan is the back gate, so few people enter from here.
3. Navigate to "Hongqi Bridge", where the viewing platform is located. There is a parking lot at the end, which makes it very convenient to enter the park.
4. Navigate to "Yalongba" and you can take aerial photos of half cherry blossoms and half tea gardens. Enter the park along the river. There are few people and the scenery is beautiful.
5. Try walking on the side roads, you might get some unexpected surprises. If you are afraid of wandering around the park and wasting time, joining a tour group is also a good choice. You don’t have to worry about the route and can take beautiful photos by following the organization.
Tips:
Pingba Farm is open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, March 5th to April 5th. Try to arrive early to take more photos when there are fewer people. Going late will just be like following the crowds! Also, the last bus usually runs at 6:00 PM, so tourists using public transportation should plan their return trip accordingly.
/Tips for producing films/
1. Taking photos: The petals slightly cover a single part of the face, and the close-up is also very moving; shoot from above to avoid the pedestrians around, and the picture will be cleaner.
2. Outfit: Light colors are best, so plain white or pink will complement the sunshine and vibrant cherry blossoms, blending seamlessly into spring. Also, be sure to wear comfortable sneakers. The garden is so large, and you can't just focus on the beauty of the garden after a day of walking.
Picture @ Shenzhen Cai Ge
Transportation
/ Self-driving /
Pingba Farm is located along Gui'an Avenue, approximately 50 kilometers from Guiyang and Anshun. It's recommended for tourists traveling by car from nearby provinces and cities. Simply search for "Pingba Farm" on your navigation system. Some maps display it as "Gui'an Cherry Blossom Garden," but these are the same location (northeast of the intersection of Zhangyuan Road and Gui'an Avenue in Pingba District, Anshun City, Guizhou Province). The cherry blossom garden has four large parking lots and one temporary lot, totaling approximately 9,000 spaces. However, even during blooming season, parking is often insufficient. We strongly recommend parking as close to the exit as possible.
Picture @ Shenzhen Cai Ge
If you happen to be driving along the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, between Guiyang and Anshun, you'll find yourself traversing a sea of flowers. Cherry blossoms flank the road, and if there's a breeze, the petals kiss the car windows, heralding the arrival of spring. Don't just indulge in the beautiful scenery; be mindful of road safety, too.
Picture @ Shenzhen Cai Ge
/ Public /
1. Take a high-speed rail ticket directly to Anshun Station. From Anshun East Passenger Transport Station, take an intercity bus to Pingba South Station. From there, transfer to Pingba Bus No. 1 or Pingba Bus No. 6 to Pingba Farm. The estimated journey time is 2-2.5 hours.
2. Take the high-speed rail or train to Guiyang. From Guiyang, you can take Jinyang Bus Station or take Bus No. 702 near Guiyang North Station to Gui'an Committee Station. Then transfer to Gui'an Bus No. 7 directly to the entrance of Pingba Farm. The estimated journey time is 2-2.5 hours.
3. Fly to Huangguoshu Airport. There are buses from the airport that go directly to Anshun East Passenger Transport Station. You can then choose other transportation to get there.
Tips:
Starting March 6, 2021, Guiyang Qianshuang Bus will launch a direct bus service to the Gui'an Cherry Blossom Garden. Boarding points within Guiyang include Guiyang Railway Station, Huaguoyuan Orchid Square, Huaxi University Town, Guiyang University West Campus, and the North High-Speed Railway Station. Tickets are 49 yuan per person and must be booked online in advance. For specific operating times this year, please contact the Yan'an West Road Tourism Distribution Center.
Ticketing related
1. Tickets: Pingba Farm is free to enter and does not charge any entrance fees.
2. Transportation within the scenic area:
Shuttle bus: 10 yuan/person. Since the distance from Parking Lot 1 outside the Cherry Blossom Garden to Parking Lot 3 inside the Cherry Blossom Garden is 12 kilometers, a shuttle bus is required. Tickets can be purchased directly at Parking Lot 1.
Sightseeing bus: 15 yuan/person. Tickets can be purchased and taken at the Cherry Blossom Garden Gate 1 (main gate), Gate 2 (300 meters after getting off the pedestrian bridge), Parking Lot 3 (shuttle bus stop), and the core scenic area (observation deck).
Bicycle: There are many rental points with different prices. The reference price is 30 yuan/day.
3. Parking fee: 10 yuan/vehicle, valid for one day.
Tips:
It's about 5 kilometers from the entrance to the park. It's recommended to take a sightseeing bus or rent a bicycle to enjoy the flowers.
(Shuttle bus/sightseeing bus operating hours: Weekdays: 09:30-18:00, Holidays: 09:00-19:00)
Best time to view cherry blossoms
Pingba's cherry blossoms typically begin blooming in early March and continue until early April. The main varieties are the snow-white early cherry blossoms and the rosy-pink late cherry blossoms. The early cherry blossoms bloom for only about 10 days before withering, followed by the late cherry blossoms, which continue to bloom for about two weeks.
Photo @Scarecrow
Accommodation recommendations
If you are a tourist from other places, it is recommended that you arrange accommodation in Guiyang or Anshun City in advance. If you don’t have high requirements, you can also stay in Pingba County. After a night’s rest, take a bus to Pingba Farm. There is no accommodation near the farm.
Picture @Xiaojie
Explore Pingba
Enjoy the beautiful flowers and take photos along the way. Feast your eyes and your taste buds. There are plenty of dining options within Pingba Farm, but it's recommended to bring some snacks to replenish your energy when you're tired. It's like a spring outing picnic.
For a delicious meal, consider Pingba's signature dish, the Whole Ox Feast (Chonghui Muslim Restaurant, about a 30-minute drive from Pingba Farm). The whole-beef hotpot, prepared by local Hui Muslims, is truly heavenly, a treat rarely found on earth. The spiky tripe, crispy and flavorful ox throat, and chewy beef tendon are all irresistible. Other options include vegetarian rice rolls, fried rice cakes, goose meat noodles, dried sea buckthorn, and bean and rice hotpot.
Conclusion
When you think of Guizhou, do you only think of Huangguoshu Waterfall? But Guizhou offers blossoms in spring, summer escapes, and a vibrant festive atmosphere in autumn and winter. There's so much more to discover, just waiting for you!
