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After the lively Spring Festival, Nanjing’s first flower-viewing event is here: go to Plum Blossom Hill at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum to look for plum blossoms. Plum blossoms of various colors are in full bloom all over the hill, complementing the 600-year-old Xiaoling Mausoleum and are beautiful beyond words. The fragrance of plum blossoms lingers for a month. March is coming, heralding the official arrival of spring in Nanjing, with hundreds of flowers quietly blooming.
Who says Nanjing only has summer and winter? Spring is beautiful too. Look, the cherry blossoms at Jiming Temple are smiling at you. Isn't that captivating? Add spring blossom viewing to your Nanjing travel list.
❀ Colorful Nanjing City
Spring arrives, ushering in the season of flowers. March is still early spring, and flowers like cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, magnolias, and rapeseed blossoms typically bloom at this time. These flowers generally bloom until April (before the Qingming Festival), with hydrangeas lasting until mid-April, so there's no need to rush; you can still see them by early April. In early May, lavender, roses, peach blossoms, and other flowers bloom. April is truly beautiful, and nothing is more beautiful than a hundred flowers in bloom. Here's a map of Nanjing's flower viewing spots—picking a weekend to check them out!
❀ Cherry Blossom Road at Jiming Temple
❀ Wisteria flowers at Xuanwu Lake
❀ Hydrangea at Wuchao Gate (Photo by @瑾煜)
March through May, Nanjing's spring weather is pleasant and sunny, making it a great time to visit Nanjing for flower viewing and outings. The city is already awash in a sea of flowers, with the plum blossoms of Meihua Mountain and the rapeseed blossoms of Yaxi attracting large numbers of tourists each year. Airfare to and from Nanjing and local hotel prices are also expected to increase.
The average temperature in Nanjing in April ranges from 13°C to 23°C. With daytime temperatures averaging 23°C, it's recommended to wear warm clothing such as windbreakers, casual wear, and light sweaters. Nighttime temperatures average 13°C, so it's recommended to wear warm clothing such as windbreakers, coats, overcoats, jackets, sweaters, wool suits, and winter clothing.
Nanjing Spring Weather
I personally believe that cherry blossoms are the most romantic part of spring. Their gentle pink and white blossoms fill the landscape, slowly spreading from south to north, telling the story of spring. The early cherry blossoms in March and the late cherry blossoms in April are both representative works of spring, and Nanjing is no exception. Throughout the city, there are numerous locations where you can admire the delicate blossoms, but these are truly the most stunning.
When it comes to Nanjing and spring, the Cherry Blossom Avenue at Jiming Temple is undoubtedly the most talked-about attraction. No spring is complete without visiting the Cherry Blossom Avenue. From day to night, the area is bustling with people, attracting numerous tourists to check in. In recent years, Jiming Temple has even created a number of cherry blossom-themed merchandise, enriching the experience of enjoying the blossoms. These include cherry blossom milk tea, cherry blossom bracelets, cherry blossom ice cream, and more.
❀ You must check in at Cherry Blossom Avenue
The cherry blossoms in Jiming Temple stand out because of their beauty and the backdrop of the thousand-year-old Jiming Temple. With this as the background, the cherry blossoms are full of ancient charm. When night falls, the lights in the Medicine Buddha Pagoda are turned on, adding a touch of warmth to the cherry blossoms.
Xuanwu Lake, separated from Jiming Temple by a city wall, is also a perfect spot for cherry blossoms. A stroll along the Ming City Wall beneath the cherry trees is incredibly romantic. But most notably, the cherry blossoms on Xuanwu Lake's Yingzhou Island are also in full bloom.
Cherry Island boasts nearly 800 cherry trees of over ten varieties, making it a prime location for cherry blossoms in Nanjing. Every spring, the land turns a vibrant crimson, resembling a fiery rosy glow, earning it the nickname "Sea of Flowers on Cherry Island." Cherries, once abundantly planted on the island, were known for their vibrant red color and delicious flavor, earning them esteemed as one of the "Five Famous Fruits of Jinling." During the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, cherries from Xuanwu Lake were sent to the capital as tribute.
Tips:
The difference between cherry blossoms and cherry flowers
Cherry blossoms are the flowers of cherry trees. Unlike cherry blossoms, their fruits are edible cherries. The flowers are white, with five petals, and grow in clusters. Cherries can be produced after the flowers fall. Cherry plants are relatively small and bloom earlier than cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms are ornamental trees with pink or white flowers, three to five per branch, arranged in umbels. Most of them cannot bear fruit, but a small number of them can bear fruit, but they are very small and astringent, making them almost inedible.
Don't think the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is only about Plum Blossom Hill; after the plum blossoms fade, the cherry blossoms take over. The cherry blossom garden boasts over 3,000 trees, their pure white, pastel-white, and pink petals half-opened and half-unfolded, nestled among quaint pavilions and towers. Strolling beneath the cherry blossoms feels like walking through life. Surrounded by Plum Blossom Hill and the Stone Elephant Road, the cherry blossoms bloom for about 20 days, from early to late, providing ample opportunity to savor this vibrant spring scenery.
Other places to enjoy cherry blossoms in Nanjing include Lovers' Garden, Gulin Park, Green Expo Park, Hongshan Forest Zoo, Flower God Avenue, Moling Xinghua Village, and Fangshan National Geopark. I won't go into detail here, so you can explore them yourself.
❀ Nanjing Cherry Blossom Viewing Map
When rapeseed enters its flowering season, the fields are ablaze with golden color. Yu Shao's poem evokes the idea: "Rapeseed blossoms cover the ground in yellow, butterflies dance and bees bustle among the bushes; the gentle breeze sweeps across the golden waves, emitting an intoxicating, rich fragrance." When the flowers bloom, they attract butterflies and bees to flit among the blossoms. The rich fragrance is intoxicating, and the beautiful scenery invites lingering.
Gaochun boasts over 200,000 mu (approximately 1,000 hectares) of rapeseed fields, most of which are situated in hilly terrain. From a high vantage point, the view stretches as far as the eye can see, resembling waves rising and falling, as if you were immersed in a sea of rapeseed flowers. Like Wuyuan, the rapeseed fields are nestled among numerous whitewashed and gray-tiled buildings, adding to the unique and vibrant scenery.
A golden blanket spreads across the fields, emitting the intoxicating fragrance of rapeseed blossoms. Spring is the perfect time to walk onto the ridges, immerse yourself in a sea of flowers, and enjoy the gifts of spring! Rapeseed flowers are a perfect springtime photo opportunity. Wearing a white dress and a straw hat creates a very artistic look.
Other great rapeseed blossom viewing spots in Nanjing include Yangliu Lake Cultural Scenic Area, Tangshan Hot Spring Resort, Jiangjun Avenue, Puwu Road in Xingdian Subdistrict, Pablo Ecological Valley, Longpao Yangtze River Fishing Village, and Xiongzhou Qiancang Community. I won't go into detail here, so you can explore them on your own.
❀ Nanjing rapeseed flower viewing map
Hydrangeas have been cultivated in China for a long time, appearing in Jiangnan gardens built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In early April, white hydrangea trees burst into stunning bloom, while after May, colorful hydrangea shrubs ("Endless Summer") begin to blanket the spring landscape and continue into summer. Parks built in the early 20th century also featured hydrangeas. Nanjing, a city steeped in the flavor of the Republican era, is no exception.
"Tall branches bear rain, weighing down the carved railings; a single stalk bears a thousand blossoms, white as jade." In the height of spring, trees of hydrangeas, overflowing with blossoms, look like soft, snow-white balls, adorning Nanjing. Wuchao Gate, also known as the "Wumen," boasts over 600 years of history. The blooming hydrangeas nestle alongside the ruins of Wuchao Gate, creating a unique and captivating scene. Climb the city wall and experience a moment of spring.
❀ Image by Jin Yu
The park is named after Hydrangea Mountain, a remnant of Shizi Mountain. Standing alone to the south of Shizi Mountain, it forms a "lion encircling a hydrangea" formation. The park encompasses mountains, water, city, and forest, creating a compact, vibrant, and elegant landscape, reminiscent of a Jiangnan landscape garden. Every May and June, Hydrangea Park transforms into a world of hydrangeas.
"Hundreds of feet of rose branches, winding around the bridal chamber. Honeyed leaves thicken the green curtain, rich blossoms spread out like red brocade. A jade chessboard is spread out, sending this red summer long. Fragrant clouds fall on clothes, leaving the fragrance for a month." Thousands of years ago, roses have amazed the world. In late spring, roses flutter, and the fragrance of flowers spreads all along the way, bringing happiness and brightness.
In the spring in Nanjing, these pink and purple rose walls are always indispensable.
This little-known spot, I like to call it Nanjing's "Secret Garden," is awash with vibrant rose blossoms, their branches bent with weight. Clusters of blossoms climb the wooden railings, creating a vibrant sea of pink and purple blossoms that adds a vibrant touch to the verdant mountains and waters. This is also where the sacred path to the Xiaoling Mausoleum begins. During the Ming Dynasty, officials arriving here were required to dismount and walk, and their horses were tethered here, hence the name "Xia Ma Fang." Admire the flowers while learning about Nanjing's history—what a delight!
❀ Image by Jin Yu
Roses can be found in every street and alley, their blooms standing out against the gray-tiled, white-walled buildings. The vibrant colors of red and green exude a touch of ancient charm, reminiscent of an oil painting. Strolling along the foot of the city wall, strolling through Laomendong, admiring the flowers, and savoring countless delicious Nanjing snacks will double your happiness! Come and experience the happiness of Nanjing's people.
Xikang Road and Tianzhu Road in the Yihe Road area are the two most classic rose-covered areas. The yellow-walled Republican-era buildings, paired with pink roses, instantly look a century old. On the section of Shanghai Road near Beijing West Road, the roses bloom both quietly and passionately. The roses at the entrance of the Provincial Power Company on Shanghai Road are of moderate height, and any photo of them would look like something out of an idol drama.
"The colorful dresses are newly dressed for the evening, the white dresses are graceful and elegant in the Jade Palace. Already a faint halo has formed on the red clouds, so the dew becomes a fragrant dust." The magnolia's elegant temperament clearly distinguishes it from other spring flowers. It stands proudly in Nanjing, yet it is hard to take your eyes away. I have seen magnolias in both white and pink, and both colors are a perfect match for ancient architecture.
Two white magnolias bloom in front of the main hall of Linggu Temple. Their pure white blossoms, yellow walls, red columns, and gray tiles create a tranquil, elegant, and noble scene. The flowers bloom for 20 days, but peak bloom lasts only about 10, so choose a good day to visit Linggu Temple, as it's also a great place to pray.
Chaotian Palace is the largest, highest-ranking, and best-preserved ancient architectural complex in the Jiangnan region. It served as a royal temple for Ming Dynasty nobles to pray. It's also the perfect spot for viewing magnolias. The white magnolias complement the yellow and green glazed tiles, creating a stunning and solemn scene.
In addition to Linggu Temple and Chaotian Palace, Nanjing also has Yuhuatai, Zhongshan Botanical Garden, Hongshan Forest Zoo, Bailuzhou Park, Hexi Central Park, Fangshan National Geopark, Chuyun Flower Fragrance, and Hefeng Town Sanye Garden where you can enjoy magnolia flowers.
Li Bai's "Wisteria Tree" says: "Wisteria hangs on the cloud tree, and its flowers and vines are suitable for spring. The dense leaves hide the singing birds, and the fragrant wind keeps the beauties." In addition to the purple sea of flowers that looks like a waterfall when in full bloom, wisteria also has a strong and unyielding character that makes people love it. At the end of spring, the cherry blossoms and other flowers have withered, and the appearance of wisteria makes people look forward to early summer.
Wisteria hangs from the cloud trees, its blossoms blooming beautifully in spring. Wisteria blossoms are in full bloom, cascading like a waterfall. From a distance, they resemble a purple cloud, their roots tangled and clinging to the promenade. Best viewing locations: at the entrance of the Liangzhou Bonsai Pavilion at Xuanwu Lake, at the S-shaped flower trellis in the Lovers' Garden, and at the entrance of Eros Square.
In addition to Xuanwu Lake, there are several other places in Nanjing where you can enjoy the purple waterfall: Hongshan Forest Zoo, Mochou Lake, Music Stage, and Zheng He Park.
The cultivation of crabapples in ancient China is documented in documents dating back to the pre-Qin period. They are known as the "golden queen of all flowers," the "noble concubine of flowers," and even the "goddess among flowers." Meanwhile, the crabapple blossoms are synonymous with beautiful spring and women, their delicate pink color stunning the spring.
The "Yipinxiang" crabapple, the first variety to bloom at Mochou Lake, is particularly striking among the other crabapples, with its tall, multi-branched form and spectacular blossoms. Papaya crabapples, stalked crabapples, and Japanese variegated crabapples are commonplace, dotted here and there, offering a constant delight.
You can also enjoy the beautiful crabapple blossoms in other places in Nanjing, such as Xuanwu Lake, Lovers' Park, Hongshan Forest Zoo, Gulin Park, Bailuzhou Park, Yuhuatai, Hexi Central Park, Wangyue Farm, and International Slow City Slow South Road.
A spring trip to Nanjing, a hundred flowers in bloom. A journey through spring brings memories of the Jiangnan region. What a beautiful spring! Don't let this beautiful time go to waste. Pick a good day to visit Nanjing. Dreaming of the Six Dynasties by the Qinhuai River, overlooking Nanjing from the summit of Purple Mountain, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, a breathtaking harvest awaits.
