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Enjoy cherry blossoms in Wuxi

(chinadaily.com.cn)

With the arrival of March, cherry blossom season is approaching full swing and the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province is ready for the sweet bouquets and beautiful blooms.

Turtle Head Park, where the International Cherry Blossom Festival will be held, is the most popular attraction in the city to capture the beauty of cherry blossoms and draws crowds in their thousands every year. However, there are some lesser known locations for visitors to grab a special glimpse of this springtime specialty.

Duyue Road

Opposite Wuxi's Plum Garden, the 500-meter road is flanked on both sides by more than 300 cherry blossoms. In recent years, Duyue Road has seen an increasing number of people coming to admire the blooms, earning it the nickname "Cherry Blossom Path".

The road connects Yugang Road and Huanhu Road, near the Plum Garden and Qinglongshan cemetery.

Industrial parks in Xinwu district

Most may think that high-tech industrial parks might be a rather bleak and sterile affair. Not so, for the parks in Xinwu district. Apart from the numerous international businesses, many of the roads in the area, especially Linghu Avenue, are lined with cherry trees. The Taihu International Science and Technology Park even has its own cherry forest.

"The cherry blossoms here are an exotic contrast to the modern architecture," said a park employee.

Jinkui Park

There is a cherry forest at Jinhui Park near the Taihu New City covering an area of more than five hectares. Donated by Hong Kong businessman, Chen Ruiqiu, the forest has a total of 3,288 cherry blossoms.

Jiangnan University

If you want to enjoy cherry blossoms without the crowds, the cherry forest in front of the library at Jiangnan University is as good a choice as any. About 60 cherry trees, planted by a Japanese firm in 2008, offer a tranquil surprise to the lucky students and knowing visitors.

Sanyang Plaza

Many residents lament the loss of the three cherry trees that grew in middle of bustling Sanyang Plaza. One spring in the 1980s, three cherry trees were planted downtown, creating a brilliant floral explosion of natural scenery in March every year. However, in 2010, the government moved the cherry trees away to free up space for the construction of the city's metro.

Huihe Road

Dating back to the last century, the cherry trees have been planted to skirt beside the street by the city's landscaping department. Every March, white and pink cherry blossoms delicately spring into life along the 1,000 meter stretch of road. These blossoms are known as prunus serrulata, blooming first in pure pink, until finally growing leaves.