Plum Blossom Viewing at Chaoshan

Plum Blossom Viewing at Chaoshan

Guide: Another top plum blossom viewing spot by West Lake, located 40 kilometers from downtown Hangzhou. “Plum Blossom Viewing at Chaoshan” is one of the most celebrated events in West Lake tourism. Highlights: To fully showcase the cultural significance of Chaoshan’s plum blossoms and stone carving heritage, a Plum Blossom Festival is held annually based on the flowering season. Introduction: The plum blossoms of Chaoshan have long been famed for their “three marvels” — antiquity, vastness, and uniqueness, and at their peak, the sea of blooming plum trees stretched gloriously for miles, earning the poetic description “ten miles of fragrant plum blossoms like a snow sea.” Of China’s five ancient plum trees from the Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, two — the Tang Plum and the Song Plum — are found here at Chaoshan. Today, there are still tens of thousands of plum trees, with over ten varieties including Red in Bone, Pink Butterfly, Red Plum, and Green Plum. The master of calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving, Wu Changshuo — the first president of the Xiling Seal Art Society — was an ardent admirer of Chaoshan’s plum blossoms. He once wrote the timeless verse: “Ten years away from the Fragrant Snow Sea, the plum blossoms remember me as I remember them. When shall I row my boat through the snow to come, and raise a cup before the flowers?” He even chose to be laid to rest amidst these plum blossoms. To this day, visitors can still see Wu Changshuo’s tomb and the Wu Changshuo Memorial Hall here. Transportation: Take bus 309 or K509 from Liushuimen Liushuiyuan in Hangzhou to the final stop, then transfer to bus 319 to reach Chaoshan (fare: 1 yuan). Alternatively, take Sightseeing Bus 3 to Linping South Station, transfer to the Tangqi bus, and walk about 400 meters to arrive.

Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province