March is here, which means soon it’ll be the cherry blossoms season! Everyone knows Japan as the ultimate place to find these pretty five-petaled pink flowers, but if Japan is too expensive for your cherry blossoms chase dream, worry not because the flower also blooms in several other countries.
1. South Korea
Jinhae
Jinhae may not ring a bell for some, but the naval port city is the best place to go in South Korea for your cherry blossoms chase. Jinhae Cherry Blossoms Festivals attracts over 2 million tourists every year. The best place to spot the beautiful flowers is Gyeonghwa Station, which used to be a functioning railway station before the service was discontinued in 2006. Yeojwacheon Stream, a lovely stream lined with cherry trees, is another spot to admire the flowers.
Seoul
Every year during the cherry blossoms season, Yeouido Park is flocked by couples who wish for a romantic date under the flowers. With over 1800 cherry blossoms trees, there’s no better place to get your blossom fix especially if you’re not leaving Seoul. The park is located right next to Han River, so you can take a walk, ride bicycles or have a picnic while gazing at the cherry blossoms. After dark, the flowers lit up and there will be live music performances and art exhibitions.
Jeju Island
Jeju Island is the first place to see cherry blossoms every year due to its location in the far south of the country. The island itself is synonymous with idyllic beaches, scenic routes and volcanic landscapes, making the place even more ethereal. Experience the blossoms at the Jeju Cherry Blossoms Festival where you can catch the sight of the majestic King Cherry trees in bloom. Otherwise head to Jeju Sports Complex or downtown Seogwipo.
2. Beijing
Yuyuantan Park
Find the largest cherry trees collection in Beijing in Yuyuantan Park, one of the most famous locations to catch the flowers in China. This park is where the Yuyuantan Cherry Blossoms Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the northern China, takes place. The cherry trees were actually given by Japan in 1973 as a diplomatic gift. An admission fee of 10 yuan per person will be charged to enter the park. During the cherry blossoms season, many stalls selling an array of cherry blossoms flavoured snacks will be available.
Beijing Botanical Garden
As soon as Beijing starts to warm up, the peach blossoms at Beijing Botanical Garden bloom and fill up the place with pink hues. With the largest peach blossom garden in the whole of Northern China, the botanical gardens have over 70 varieties of peach trees with their own unique characters. Don’t forget to locate the historic Cao Xueqin Memorial and Liang Qichao Tomb in the park.
3. Taiwan
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan is one of Taiwan’s finest national parks and undoubtedly the best place to admire cherry blossoms in the country. In 2017’s cherry blossoms season alone, this national park garnered over a million tourists from all around the world. The flowers in Yangmingshan bloom as early as February, which makes it perfect for those who wish to skip winter faster. The park also is home to natural hot spring, a sulphur lake and Taiwan’s largest volcano.
Alishan Forest Recreation Area
A 2.5 hour trip from Taichung City is Alishan Forest Recreation Area, home to high mountains and lush greenery intertwined with pink cherry blossoms. Alishan is located 2,500 metres above sea levels, so its cool climate makes the place perfect to spend the day outdoors. Different species of cherry trees, namely Taiwanese Sakura, Yoshino Cherries and Double-Layer Sakura, bloom at different times from January till April. Admission to the park is regulated to only 160,000 visitors per day to avoid overcrowding, so hurry down to get the best view.
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