Spring Festival a great time to admire plum blossoms

Plum blossoms in the Wuxi Plum Garden, East China's Jiangsu province, Feb 10, 2018. [Photo/thmz.com]

It has become a tradition for residents of Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, to visit the city's Plum Garden and enjoy its beautiful and fragrant flowers during the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Five kilometers from downtown Wuxi, the Plum Garden has been renowned since it opened in 1912 as one of the best places south of the Yangtze River to admire plum blossoms. It is home to nearly10,000 plum trees of around 400 varieties, and covers an area of eight hectares.

Some varieties are already in bloom, but experts say the best time to visit is in mid-February, when most of the flowers will be in full bloom.

Plum blossoms in the Wuxi Plum Garden, east China's Jiangsu province, Feb 10, 2018. [Photo/thmz.com]

In order to attract more visitors, the garden holds a plum blossom festival in February and March every year. This year's event will run from Feb 10 to March 25, and will feature a series of plum-themed exhibitions and cultural exchange activities.

The garden will hold a plum blossom bonsai exhibition from Feb 10 to March 10. The bonsais, which come in a variety of shapes and colors, have been gathered from 10 different plum blossom scenic spots from all over the country.

Other activities will include a photo exhibition, a flower arrangement display, a food festival and a plum tea party.