Wuxi Jiulong Bay glows with blossoms

The first Jiulong Bay Flower Fairy Festival kicks off in Huacai Town, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on March 31, 2018. [Photo by Xue Xinyi/chinadaily.com.cn]

A Flower Fairy Festival, the first of its kind, kicked off in Huacai Town, Jiulong Bay, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on March 31, and will last until June 19.

More than 100 varieties of azalea, the protagonist of the Flower Fairy Festival, are displayed in Huacai Town, including some rare types such as a 500-year old azalea king, a 300-year old imperial azalea and the Anku azalea, which can blossom for three seasons.

The Chinese redbud, hyacinth and tulip, are in full bloom; other flowers like red sage, verbena hybrid and digitalis will soon join them.

In addition to enjoying flowers, there will be a variety of cultural experience events, such as searching for 12 flower fairies, examining flower lanterns and putting out seeds in the sun for blessings, during the festival.

The Flower Fairy Festival, a traditional celebration in ancient China, is to commemorate the birthday of flowers. In ancient days people would travel to the countryside to enjoy flowers, which was known as "hiking". Girls would cut colorful papers to stick to the flower branches. Poets and literary men would compose and declaim poems. For their part, officials would go to the countryside to encourage the farmers.

The Flower Fairy Festival in Huacai Town will last until June 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The first Jiulong Bay Flower Fairy Festival is hosted by Sunny Stone Group, which was responsible for the largest single tourist festival of Hangzhou – the Xixi Flower Fairy Festival.

Located on the shore of Taihu Lake, Hucai Town covers an area of 2,123 mu (141.53 hectares). It is designed as a new visual garden complex, integrating the flower industry, culture, ecology and daily life. It has Jiulong Bay flower city, Longwan Garden, the Jiulong Bay flower-themed hotel, Jiulong Bay natural amusements and other flower-related commercial industries.

Not only flowers but also bonsai are on display in Huacai Town as the Flower Fairy Festival gets underway. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]