A Flower Watching Tour

English>>Special Coverage >> Discovering Yunnan

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(People's Daily Online) 09:07, August 16, 2013

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(Provided to People's Daily Online/Tang Yunsheng)

Nicknamed "kingdom of plants", Yunnan is a place where flowers are seen blooming all the year around. Kunming enjoys a wonderful climate for flower planting, which wins it the name of "Ever-spring City" as well as the "Flower City".

The "King Rhododendron" is growing in Datang Village in the north of Tengchong County. Among over 800 kinds of azaleas in the world, it has been known as the largest rhododendron tree with thick stems and huge flowers.

The peony garden on Shizishan (Lion Mountain) in Wuding, more than 2,400 meters above sea level, refutes the old Chinese saying that peonies can only be planted in Central China. Its blossoms are now a popular tourist attraction in Yunnan. Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), who was said to have become a monk on the mountain after he was deposed, planted the first peony. Nearly 7 hectares of peonies - of all types, with bigger flowers and longer blooming times than in Central China - now blossom every year.

Puzhehei Scenic Spot boasts its rich lotus resources and charming lake sceneries. There are nearly ten thousand mu of lotus growing on the lakes of Puzhehei. A sea of lotus can be seen here in July or August every year.

Bordering on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the northwest and facing the Indo-Chinese Peninsula in the southeast, Yunnan is affected by southwest and southeast monsoons alternatively, and has tropical, subtropical, temperate and frigid zones, thus making it possible for plants of different species to grow and propagate. There are more than 15,000 species of higher plant, which makes up half of the total in China, and 8 genera of the most primeval seed plants, which amounts to 2/3 of the total in the world. Therefore, "the Kingdom of Plants" is worthy its name for Yunnan.

Recommended Destinations for Flower Watching:

Plum flower:
Black Dragon Pool Park of Kunming
Time: Spring Festival (Plum Blossom Festival)

Camellia:
Golden Temple of Kunming, Zixi Mountain of Chuxiong, The Family Zhang' Garden in Dali
Time: Spring Festival

Canola flower：
Luoping County
Time：Late February to early March

Cherry:
Yuantong Mountain of Kunming, Yunnan University
Time：Late February to early March

Rhododendron：
Jiaozi Snow Mountain, Cang Mountain, King Rhododendron in Tengchong, Pudacuo National Park, Yingwu Mountain
Time: May

Lotus:
Green Lake of Kunming, Puzhehei of Wenshan
Time: May to August

Peony:
Lion Mountain of Wuding
Time: March

Pomegranate:
Mengzi
Time: May