300,000 tulips bloom in succession – Zhongshe Tulip Season kicks off

The Zhongshe Flower Market Tulip Season has begun, with the Dutch Flower Princess seemingly transported to a romantic European setting. (Photo by Chen Shu-e)

The Dutch Flower Princess moves through the tulip garden at Zhongshe Flower Market, creating a picturesque scene. (Photo by Chen Shu-e)

Staff at Zhongshe Flower Market bury tulip bulbs in the soil for cultivation. (Photo by Chen Shu-e)

Shortly after the Taichung Flower Carpet Festival opened last week, Houli’s Zhongshe Flower Market also launched its Tulip Season. From 28 February until mid-March next year, 300,000 tulips of over 50 varieties will bloom in succession. Business owner Lai Chi-wen said visitors can enjoy the earliest blooming tulip clusters on Taiwan’s plains, and with the Dutch windmills around the park, they’ll be immersed in a romantic European atmosphere.

The Zhongshe Flower Market Tulip Season kicked off on 28 February, featuring live traditional Dutch music as several Dutch Flower Princesses danced among the tulips, warming up for the 2018 World Flora Exposition. Many visitors flocked to the site, expressing delight at the visual feast and taking photos with the beautiful blooms.

Lai Chi-wen pointed out that this year marks the 13th edition of the Tulip Season. During the entire season, 300,000 tulips of more than 50 varieties will be on display, cultivated using low-temperature storage technology so visitors can enjoy their beauty earlier. The first blooms include over 10 colors such as Purple-Pink Christmas Dream, Yellow Sunshine Prince, Red Feifan Zhan, White White Prince, and Purple Purple Prince, forming a dazzling and delightful spectacle.

Zhongshe Flower Market stated that the season will last over two months, with rare varieties such as Red Double Pirate, White Double Vienna, Black Black Queen, and White Double Ice Cream tulips blooming in batches until mid-March next year. Lai Chi-wen said the tulip exhibition attracts large crowds every year, and with the success of the southbound policy in recent years, the growth in Southeast Asian visitors has been particularly notable.