Finally! The plum blossoms at Qianjin Meiling Ridge in West Lihu Lake are now in full bloom.

I must admit my ignorance, having lived in Zhengzhou without knowing it had its own "Pavilion of Prince Teng." Located in the south area of West Lihu Lake, the Qingyun Pavilion, which took four years to build, was completed at the end of last year. While the interior isn't open to the public yet, you can still enjoy the view from the observation deck.
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🏯West Lihu Lake, Zhengzhou: Visitor Information
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🌸Spring Flower Viewing: Plum blossoms are in full bloom in February–March (view plum blossoms at Qianjin Meiling Ridge).
🚗Driving: The parking lot tends to fill up quickly. Consider parking on Zhongyuan West Road/Kaixuan Road.
🚌Public Transportation: Take Line 1 to West Third Ring Road Station or Line 10 to West Lihu South Station.
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📷Photo Spots
✅Qingdi Xunfang
👉Enter West Lihu Lake through West Gate 1. The Wangbixuan Pavilion is nearby. Inside the pavilion, you can take photos of the Bihong Bridge and Qingyun Pavilion together. This area is less crowded, so it's recommended to take photos here first before exploring the park. Using a telephoto lens is ideal (around 100mm focal length).
👉The lawn next to the pavilion is also a good spot for group photos, offering views of the bend in West Lihu Lake and the Qingyun Pavilion in the distance. The grass is still yellow now, but it will look even more spring-like when it greens up.
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✅Qianjin Meiling Ridge
👉Enter West Lihu Lake through East Gate 1, at the foot of the Qingyun Pavilion. There are three or four clusters of plum trees here, perfect for low-angle shots that evoke a Kyoto-like feel. It's best to arrive early for photos, as the area gets crowded on weekend afternoons and evenings, and the light fades after 4–5 pm.
👉Don't miss the Qingyun Pavilion. While the interior isn't open yet, you can access the first-floor observation deck. Be mindful of power lines and kite strings in the vicinity, especially if you're flying a drone.
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🗺️Suggested Routes
🌸Flower Viewing Route: Enter through West Lihu South Gate 1 → Liuyunxuan Pavilion → Tianhe Pavilion → Children's Play Area → Qianjin Meiling Ridge → Yumei Pavilion → Qingyun Pavilion → Exit through East Gate 1.
🌸Cross-Lake Route: Enter through West Lihu West Gate 1 → Wangbixuan Pavilion → Bihong Bridge → Yinyuxuan Pavilion → Baoji Pavilion (under maintenance) → Qianjin Meiling Ridge → Yumei Pavilion → Qingyun Pavilion → Exit through East Gate 1.
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❤️Tips
1️⃣The east gate of West Lihu Lake is still under construction and inaccessible by car. Don't waste your time trying to go that way.
2️⃣The plum blossoms at West Lihu Lake come in white, red, pink, and reportedly even green.
3️⃣For the best views of the plum blossoms, avoid the main roads. Enter through the south gate and take the smaller paths.
4️⃣Pets are not allowed in the park, so it's best to leave them at home.