2012 Qingming Festival Holiday – Beijing Outing and Spring Hiking Activity Guide

       The 2012 Qingming Festival is approaching. Recently, the General Office of the State Council released the official holiday schedule: three days off from April 2 (Monday) to April 4 (Wednesday, Qingming Festival), with make-up workdays on March 31 (Saturday) and April 1 (Sunday). The Qingming Festival falls on the 14th day of the third lunar month every year, and in 2012 it is on April 4. Regarding the holiday arrangement by the General Office of the State Council, many netizens have voiced their opinions. But no matter what, the Qingming Festival holiday is here. For most people, Qingming is a time for ancestor worship and tomb sweeping. The free time outside of these duties is often spent following another old Qingming tradition—spring outings. To enrich the holiday experience for Beijing residents, the Beijing Municipal Gardening and Greening Bureau has launched a series of Qingming Festival events, mainly including flower viewing and spring hiking, ancestral worship activities, and exhibitions focused on folk culture and science.

 

 

       “In Search of a Spiritual Peach Blossom Spring” – The 24th Beijing Peach Blossom Festival and 9th International Flower Exhibition

       Reference period: Late March to mid-May

       Venue: Beijing Botanical Garden

       Highlights: 1. The most diverse collection of peach blossom varieties in a specialized garden; 2. Brilliant peach blossoms set against thousands of other spring flowers such as plum blossoms, lilacs, crabapples, tulips, and peonies; 3. A uniquely crafted “urban peach blossom paradise,” making it the perfect spot for flower viewing and spring outings for both locals and tourists.

       “Jade Dragons Meet a Prosperous Era – Cherry Blossoms Bloom Unasked by Spring” – The 24th Cherry Blossom Festival

       Reference period: Late March to late April

       Venue: Yuyuantan Park

       Highlights: 1. Nearly 2,000 cherry trees create an elegant cultural setting for cherry blossom appreciation; 2. Exhibition on the history of Chinese cherry blossom culture and a Beijing Peking Opera culture corridor; 3. Activities include tea tasting & cherry blossom viewing, “Spot the Stars in the Park” community cultural events, the 9th “Spring Has Come to Yuyuantan” photography competition, and cherry tree adoption programs.

       “Spring in Full Bloom – Fragrance at Xiangshan” – The 10th Mountain Flower Festival and Xiangshan Incense Culture Festival

       Reference period: April 1 to May 13

       Venue: Scenic areas such as the Hall of Diligent Government, Lilac Path, and Jade Splendor Pavilion in Xiangshan Park

       Highlights: 1. Themed garden landscapes like “Fragrance Deep in Pine Woods,” “Silver Flowers Bloom Bright,” “Golden Buds Burst with Extra Fragrance,” “The Number One Scent Under Heaven,” and “Apricot Blossoms Like Red Rain”; 2. Xiangshan Incense Culture Exhibition and 2011 Xiangshan Red Leaf Photography Exhibition; 3. Activities include exploring ancient sites at Xiangshan, Xiangshan Market, Sports at Xiangshan, Weibo interaction for fragrant flower discovery, gardening contests, and Happy Little Gardeners.

       Note: Take the cable car for an aerial view of Xiangshan’s spring scenery and a distant panorama of the Three Hills and Five Gardens

       Reference period: April 5 to May 7

       Venue: Qionghua Island and Taiye Pool shores in Beihai Park

       Highlights: 1. Display of the Eight Views of Yanjing; 2. Retrospective exhibition of the historical and cultural corridor; 3. Silkworm Worship Ceremony; 4. “Talking About Mulberry and Hemp” – Exhibition of traditional Chinese cotton and silk textiles.

       Note: “Let’s row the boat together” remains an eternal theme

       Reference period: Early April to mid-May

       Venue: Zhongshan Park

       Highlights: 1. Traditional Chinese flowers such as plum blossoms, apricot blossoms, mountain peaches, and peonies, as well as herbaceous plants like yellow chrysanthemums, South African marigolds, and pansies; 2. More than 100 varieties and 300,000 tulips and other bulb flowers blooming successively.

       Reference period: Late March to April

       Venue: Summer Palace

       Highlights: 1. The vast waters of Kunming Lake and scenic lakeside views make it the “Azure Sea” of summer retreats in the west of the capital during imperial times, and a beloved boating destination for locals; 2. Dozens of spring flower varieties in the park such as wintersweet, peach blossoms, and magnolia are in full bloom.

       Reference dates: March 30 to May 3

       Venue: Taoranting Park

       Highlights: 1. Ten themed zones—including birds and animals, marine life, historical figures, and children’s themes—featuring nearly 2,000 large three-dimensional kites; 2. Over 200 premium kites in eight major series on display; 3. More than 2,000 spring flowers blooming successively; 4. Interactive activities such as children’s DIY painting and woodblock printing.

       Reference dates: March 23 to April 8

       Venue: Tanghua Wu, Huifang Garden, Plum Garden, and the central axis road within the inner altar of Zhongshan Park

       Highlights: 1. Nearly 40 potted plum blossoms and outdoor-planted plum trees; 2. "Fragrance Through the Seasons"—the 3rd Beijing Premium Cymbidium Exhibition 2012; 3. "The Gentleman of Flowers and Soul of Chinese Fragrance"—Plum and Orchid Culture Exhibition and classical poetry appreciation display; 4. Wish Tree panels and plum blossom photography displays.