Top Five Wintersweet Appreciation Resorts in Beijing  
 

(Source: china.com)

Last week’s snow made Beijing chilly; everything waits to come to life again till the advent of the Awakening of Insects solar term this Sunday. However, wintersweets (a kind of flower blooming in cold winter) came into bloom in the flurry. Now is the perfect time for appreciating the beauty of wintersweet flowers. Wintersweets are planted in public gardens and parks in Beijing. Let’s take this opportunity to walk in the snow and enjoy the wintersweets.

Tips: When talking about Mei Flowers, people always think of those tiny flowers with white or pink petals that are known as plum flowers. However, this kind of flower is not the same as the winteresweet. Wintersweets belong to the Ceratophyllaceae family, and plum flowers belong to the rose family. According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica” compiled by Li Shizhen, “the wintersweet, a kind of yellow flower, does not belong to the plum family. It looks and smells like plum bloom and has a similar color with beeswax.” It is said that the traditional plum bloom won’t bloom until the end of March bloom, but the wintersweet has come into bloom already and the flower will last for half a month.

Beijing Botanical Garden “Appreciating wintersweets in Wofo Temple” After entering the south gate of Beijing Botanical Garden, just proceed along the center axis then you will find Wofo Temple. More than 60 cultivars of wintersweets have been grown in it, covering every corner of the temple; especially in front of the Temple of Shanmen. Enjoying wintersweets in such a peaceful and calm place makes people feel detached. On the east side of Uranus Palace, there is an ancient wintersweet which was planted during the Years of Zhenguan in Tang Dynasty. It is ranked as “the best wintersweet in Beijing.” According to the staff of Beijing’s Botanical Gardens, people have to wait another 10 days to appreciate the blossoming of this millennium wintersweet because of the insufficient rainfall this year.

Estimated Flowering Period: Mid-March

Ticket Price: Beijing Botanical Garden: 5.00RMB  Wofo Temple: 5.00RMB

Summer Palace Fragrant wintersweets in Lenong Xuan The historical architecture of Lenong Xuan embodies my rural style. There are not so many wintersweet trees in the garden, but those small petals of wintersweet cluster together, clinging to the branches of the trees; this is very lovely. Because of the cold weather, the flowers are still in the budding stage. It is estimated that the flower will come into “Bloom” after this week-end. At that juncture, Lenong Xuan will become a golden flagrant world which will attract the eyes of people. Everyone will come into the garden, appreciating the beautiful and sweet wintersweets of winter. Estimated Flowering Period: Mid-March Ticket Price: 20RMB (Slack Season before March 30th)

The Grand View Garden Red wintersweet is more fragrant, I tell you Longcui Temple is not far from the west entrance of The Grand View Garden. According to “A Dream of Red Mansions,” Longcui Temple is the living place of Miao Yu and it is the only temple in the whole garden. The northern part of the garden is a temple; the eastern part is for meditation. Smoke spirals upward from the garden, making the whole atmosphere enjoyable. Several wintersweets have bloomed in the west side of the temple. The wintersweets here are called red wintersweets, a kind of fragrant flower with a purple center set against yellow petals. It is worth your appreciation.

Estimated Flowering Period: partially bloomed, florescence appears in this weekend Ticket Price: 40RMB

Beijing Zhongshan Park Wintersweet trees in Huifang Park Zhongshan Park is located to the west of Tian’anmen Square in the heart of the inner city. Entering through the southern entrance and proceeding in a northwesterly direction, you will arrive at Huifang Park, where many wintersweet trees have grown. When the wintersweets are in bloom, the park gives off delicate fragrance. In winter time, other plants wither while new buds of wintersweets begin to appear, and the yellow petals sparkle with moderate purple abandon. Those wintersweet trees in Zhongshan Park are not big, so those are perfect for photography enthusiasts who like macro filming. Estimated Flowering Period: partially bloomed, florescence appears in this weekend Ticket Price, Zhongshan Park: 3.00RMB Ticket Price, Huifang Park: 5.00RMB

Fragrant Hills Park Wintersweets hide in the valley It is well known that there is a “wintersweet valley” near the southern part of the Lake of Spectacles. In the previous year, when the wintersweets are blooming in majestic splendor, it gives off a delicate fragrance. Although around 40 cultivars are still in the budding stage now, it is estimated that the yellow flower will bloom one after another in a week. Most of the tourists to Fragrant Hills Park are slightly and very old. Apart from climbing, you can also go to the “wintersweet valley,” enjoy the flowers in blossom, and wait for the flowers to bud. It is a good choice for exercise and wintersweet appreciation at the same time.

Estimated Flowering Period: Mid-March

Ticket Price: 5RMB (Slack Season before March 31st)

Source: china.com

Translated by Jiang Yilingzi

 

 
 
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