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The autumn season is in full swing, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus fills the air. A few cold rains have deepened the autumn mood, bringing the familiar sweet aroma to Hangzhou. The mountains are already filled with the second wave of osmanthus fragrance!
Even the Fengqi Road subway station has osmanthus flowers in bloom. A boss born in the 1990s was so happy when he passed by the "Osmanthus Tunnel" on his way to work that he gave his employees a day off to enjoy the osmanthus blossoms. He ended up going viral as "The Boss of God."
Picture @ Weibo-CCTV.com
Yes, the weather has been clear and crisp recently, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus is gradually wafting in the air. Hangzhou right now is really suitable for traveling!
The recent weather forecast from the weather station states that due to high temperatures, little rain, and a typhoon-induced cooling, the flowering period has been delayed for a considerable period. This weekend will usher in a new (and third) round of peak osmanthus viewing season! Varieties like "Osmanthus fragrans," "Osmanthus suspensa," "Osmanthus cinnabarus," and "Red Osmanthus fragrans" will be in full bloom, creating a vibrant and beautiful scene, filling the city with fragrance.
For those friends who haven’t had time to appreciate the osmanthus, quickly collect this still “hot” 12 latest 2022 Hangzhou osmanthus appreciation map, and set off this weekend!
Manjuelong in autumn belongs to sweet-scented osmanthus. Exit B of Huanglong Sports Center Station on Metro Line 3/10 has specially added a special line for osmanthus viewing this year, which goes from the city to Manjuelong for the osmanthus rain.
Picture @Hangzhou Bus
A bus connecting Maojiabu, Longjing, and Manjuelong is only 5 yuan, providing one-stop access and eliminating the hassle of parking in the city. (First and last bus times: West Lake Gymnasium 8:30-15:00; Manlong Guiyu 10:00-17:30; runs only on statutory weekends and holidays)
This special osmanthus viewing line starts from the West Lake Gymnasium, stops at Maojiabu and the Shuangfeng Pavilion of the Tea Expo along the way, and finally stops at the entrance of the Manlong Osmanthus Rain and Shiwudong scenic spot.
There are vast tea plantations, koelreuteria trees in the distance, and when you get close to the osmanthus trees, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers hits you in the face. It is definitely the sweetness of autumn in Hangzhou.
"Golden millet is everywhere beside Manjuelong, and the wind blows down the autumn mountains."
Xiamanjuelong is actually an often overlooked place for osmanthus viewing. Many osmanthus flowers in Shiwudong have already bloomed by the end of September.
This is the favorite place for authentic old Hangzhou people to drink tea and chat. Under the osmanthus tree, with a pot of tea and a plate of osmanthus cake, even time seems to slow down.
The garden is filled with fragrance recently. As you approach, the air is filled with the aroma of osmanthus. There are also stone caves that are very suitable for exploration, or you can light a pot of tea in the open courtyard and chat. It is so comfortable!
After your stroll, you can walk along Manjuelong Road to No. 75 Yuanwang Hot Spring House, and then climb to the top of Baihe Peak for a panoramic view of West Lake!
Osmanthus is the city flower of Hangzhou, and there seem to be a few trees on every corner. But the place where osmanthus flourishes the most is undoubtedly Manjuelong. Every autumn, the sweet fragrance of the osmanthus here fills the empty mountains, and the petals fall like rain, which is called "Manjuelong Osmanthus Rain".
Osmanthus tea garden, quaint wooden houses, golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, red osmanthus, four-season osmanthus... bits of osmanthus flowers quietly fall on shoulders and tea gardens, and the fragrance spreads for miles, refreshing the heart. Don't be afraid of the crowds, it will be much quieter if you walk in!
Manjuelong has been a famous osmanthus viewing spot since the Ming Dynasty. There are more than 7,000 osmanthus trees along the mountain road, the oldest of which is over 200 years old. It is the most famous place for osmanthus viewing in Hangzhou.
Recently, the second crop of osmanthus flowers has bloomed in Manjuelong. The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers are in full bloom, and the fragrance is everywhere. Walking along the mountain road covered with golden osmanthus flowers, every household nearby has set up a pergola and displayed sweet-scented osmanthus Longjing tea, dried osmanthus flowers, sweet-scented osmanthus cakes, candied osmanthus flowers, sweet-scented osmanthus honey, sweet-scented osmanthus wine...
The further you go up the mountain from Xiamanjuelong, the stronger the sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance becomes, and you'll encounter even more beautiful sights. Take the roadside Koelreuteria trees, for example, and the persimmon tree near your homestay, its branches laden with persimmons. This autumn, don't miss the osmanthus rain in Manjuelong!
Surprisingly, you can even admire osmanthus blossoms at the Tea Museum. The cascading Tang and Song dynasty-style buildings, connected by galleries, winding paths, and ponds, evoke the secluded charm of a Jiangnan paradise.
Osmanthus trees are quietly scattered among the trees, and any photo you take will be a Chinese-style blockbuster. The key is that there are very few people. You can also drink tea and taste delicious food in the museum while smelling the fragrance of osmanthus. It couldn’t be more unique!
Yangmeiling Village is an easily forgotten place for osmanthus viewing. There are few people here, the flowers are lush, and the osmanthus trees all over the village are refreshing.
If you don’t like going to the bustling osmanthus viewing spots, come here and order an osmanthus latte, taste some osmanthus sugar cake, breathe in the air with the scent of osmanthus, and your whole mood will improve!
In addition to the well-known osmanthus viewing spots such as Manjuelong, Yangmeiling Village, and Maojiabu, there are also some "niche" places that you can't miss. Invite a few friends and have a romantic encounter with Hangzhou in autumn!
Autumn is very suitable for hiking and enjoying the autumn scenery. The sweet-scented osmanthus in the mountains is in full bloom these days. The mountain breeze brings the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, adding a little happiness to the journey.
Wengjiashan Village, located east of Shizi Peak, is the highest natural village in Hangzhou. Because the village's osmanthus flowers often bloom a dozen days later than those outside, Yu Dafu once wrote "Late Osmanthus Blossom," a poem describing the scenery of Wengjiashan.
In previous years, by the end of October in Manjuelong, only clusters of pale green flower receptacles might remain, but the secluded Wengjiashan was still overflowing with the fragrance of osmanthus. No wonder even Yu Dafu couldn't help but exclaim: "So there are still osmanthus flowers here at this time? I haven't seen any in Manjuelong, which is famous for its osmanthus flowers. Instead, I can smell the rich fragrance in this secluded mountain. This is really a miracle."
Yuhuang Mountain is one of the secret places for people to "smell osmanthus". There is a patch of osmanthus trees planted at the entrance of Zilai Cave. The flowers are in full bloom, and the fragrance is so strong that people can hardly move away.
Although Yuhuang Mountain is only 237 meters high, its location and view are excellent, overlooking the West Lake on one side and the Qiantang River on the other.
The warmth of autumn spreads here. You can climb up to see the distant view and enjoy the fragrance of osmanthus. It would be nice to take a set of autumn photos here!
Wansong Academy is a relatively unknown place for osmanthus viewing. It was once the largest academy in Hangzhou during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Wang Yangming once lectured here, but what made it famous was the romantic story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai studying together.
The sweet osmanthus here is not as ostentatious as in other places. It just blooms in spots in front of and behind the houses. Even the fragrance is elegant and quiet, blending with the temperament of the academy, making people feel tranquil and peaceful.
If the osmanthus flowers on the roadside grow wildly in nature, then the osmanthus flowers in the botanical garden are carefully cared for by humans.
The Osmanthus and Crape Myrtle Garden is perfect for enjoying the fragrance in autumn. It has cultivated more than 2,000 osmanthus plants of more than 20 varieties. You will not want to go home after strolling here.
In addition to the golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus and four-season osmanthus in the garden, there is also a hard-leaved osmanthus more than 10 meters high. It was named the "King of Osmanthus" in 1994. When it is in full bloom, the whole garden is filled with fragrance that is refreshing.
Hangzhou Flower Garden is a very niche place for appreciating osmanthus. There is a scenic spot in the north of the flower garden called "Golden Osmanthus in Autumn".
There are various rare varieties of osmanthus planted inside. The osmanthus corridor is the characteristic here, and the garden art is also very strong. Don't miss it~
It is rare to see osmanthus and an old train in the same frame. It has a cinematic and artistic feel, and any photo taken is very impressive. There are really few people here, so it is quite comfortable to bring some delicious food for a picnic!
"Osmanthus flowers fall in the moon, and their fragrance floats beyond the clouds" and "Looking for osmanthus flowers in the mountain temple under the moon"
The sweet osmanthus in the thousand-year-old temple is also well-known. In the ancient, quiet and pleasant temple, there is not only comfort but also a sense of Zen.
In the golden autumn, the sweet osmanthus flowers of Lingyin Temple are so fragrant that they fill the mountains with their fragrance. In this ancient, tranquil, and picturesque temple, listen to the tolling of bells, bask in the fragrance of osmanthus, and seek enlightenment, escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are teahouses and coffee shops around the temple, so you can stop by for a drink and try the autumn-only osmanthus series!
Among Hangzhou's autumn osmanthus viewing spots, Tianzhu should be included. The Tianzhu area is rich in osmanthus trees, and every mid-autumn season, the osmanthus flowers are bright and fragrant.
Tianzhu Mountain is full of spiritual energy. The thousand-year-old Faxi Temple, the women's temple Fajing Temple, Fajing Temple... many temples of all sizes have taken root here. The winding paths connect almost all the temples on the mountain.
When the fragrance of osmanthus and the sandalwood from the temple rise together, that is the most wonderful smell that blends nature and humanity in autumn.
In addition to these temples, Li'an Temple and Jingci Temple are also very good niche osmanthus + temple check-in spots.
But there are more than just these osmanthus flowers in Hangzhou. They are everywhere, in Hupao Park, Meijiawu, Maojiabu, Changqiao Park... on both sides of the road and at the doorsteps of homes. You can be filled with the fragrance of flowers as soon as you open the door. This may be the romance of Hangzhou!
Shanghai Guilin Park, formerly known as "Huang Family Garden", was once the private villa of Shanghai underworld boss Huang Jinrong. Guilin Park has inherited the "true tradition" of Suzhou gardens. The courtyard has pavilions, terraces, nine-curve corridors, mountain rockery, four-sided halls and other classic garden buildings.
The park is named after the sweet-scented osmanthus trees that are planted all over it. Every August of the lunar calendar, more than 1,000 osmanthus trees of more than 20 varieties compete to exude their fragrance. The restaurants and teahouses in the park also serve traditional sweet-scented osmanthus drinks and desserts for visitors to taste.
After National Day, the sweet-scented osmanthus trees in the garden bloomed in full bloom, with a rich fragrance, elegant and beautiful appearance. The sweet-scented osmanthus trees in the West Garden, East Garden and Main Garden have entered their best viewing period.
Outside the Yuanyang Building on the north side of the park, many osmanthus foods are being sold, including osmanthus cakes, osmanthus wine, osmanthus plum soup... There are also many people drinking tea, playing chess, appreciating and tasting osmanthus under the tree. Come and spend a pleasant osmanthus-scented weekend!
Linggu Temple, located at the southeast slope of Purple Mountain, was named "Linggu Zen Temple" by Zhu Yuanzhang himself during the Ming Dynasty and was named "the No. 1 Zen Temple in the World". It is one of the three major Buddhist temples in the Ming Dynasty.
This temple, which was first built in the Southern Dynasties, has more than 20,000 osmanthus trees. The majestic red walls are set against the golden osmanthus flowers, giving it a solemn and flamboyant beauty.
The beamless hall in the garden is the oldest existing pure brick and stone structure in China. Outside the hall is an open square with a tall osmanthus tree in the center. It is over a hundred years old and is known as the "Jinling Osmanthus King".
This year, the opening time of the King of Guihua Tree is more than ten days later than last year. It has recently opened and will be at its best viewing period around next week.
In autumn, Linggu Temple is filled with osmanthus, ginkgo, and maple leaves... If you want to truly enjoy the autumn, don't miss Linggu Temple!
The fragrance of osmanthus is refreshing, and osmanthus-related desserts, snacks, osmanthus tea, and osmanthus wine also carry the flavor of this season and are intoxicating.
Osmanthus cake, sweet taro with osmanthus, and lotus root with osmanthus glutinous rice... these are all this season's most delicious snacks. Chewing them slowly brightens your mood, soothing your body and soul while leaving behind delicious memories of this beautiful osmanthus season.
Brew a pot of osmanthus tea, sip a sip of osmanthus wine, and why miss Jiangnan? Jiangnan is in this lingering osmanthus fragrance, where everyone can enjoy themselves.
Osmanthus flowers fall on my shoulders, and the fragrance brings back memories at that moment
#What other osmanthus viewing spots have you visited? Share your stories in the comments section~
