By Yuling Chen, EDITOR
If you want to explore plum blossoms in latest one to two months outside the downtown of Chongqing in Southwest China, Wushan County would be a good choice.
Plum flowers (Photo by Wang Zhonghu)
Wushan County presents plum flowers in full bloom, nearly 200,000 mu, in March. The opening ceremony of the 2nd Yangtze River Three Gorges (Wushan) Plum Blossom Festival kicked off in Chongqing downtown on March 10. The theme is “City of Plum in China, Sea Flowers of the Three Gorges”. The plum blossom festival will open at the sea flower of Quchi by the Wuxia Gorge on March 16. The numerous mountains, coated with plum blossoms, are stretching for hundred miles, as if they were snow-covered. The site is close to the Yangtze River. And the pure white plum blossoms are very beautiful when mirrored on the surface of lucid water with lush mountains.
Wushan crispy plum (Photo by Liu Bo)
Wushan County is the home of crispy plum in China. On the extensive land of 3,000 square kilometers, the areas under the altitude of 800 meters provide favorable environments. It is ideal for people to plant this kind of plums here. Influenced by the altitude differences, the blossom period of plums is from mid-March to mid-April, lasting a whole month. This site boasts the largest plum blossom sightseeing area with the longest blossom period in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region.
During the event, visitors can participate in the grand opening ceremony and garden activities at Quchi, by the Wuxia Gorge. There are also delicacies and entertainment activities as you wish.
Recommended Route 1: Baozi Beach of Quchi Township
Details: Wushan County → The West Roundabout → Hongshiliang → Ganyuan Village → Baozi Beach
Water route: Taking the boat at Wushan Visitor Center → Baozi Beach of Quchi Township
The boats depart at 09:00-09:30 every morning (with 50 tickets sold per boat) and return at 14:00-14:30 (After 14:30, you have to select other means of transportation to return); Tickets: RMB 50/person (round trip).
Self-driving (two hours): Wushan County → The West Roundabout → Hongshiliang → Ganyuan Village→ Baozi Beach
Recommend reason: In the Gaoxia Pinghu Resort Area, the old trees are standing beside the lucid water of the Yangtze River. The plum blossoms are covering for a hundred miles, like white snow coating the numerous mountains.
Information service: Wushan Visitor Center
Contact: +86-23-57756666
Recommended Route 2: Shaluo Village, Daxi Township
Water route: Yushan Wharf of Wushan County → Taking the boat to Daxi (Three boats per day at 8:00, 12:00, and 14:30 respectively)
Self-driving (two hours): Wushan County → Longmen Bridge → Yangtze River Bridge → Nanling Township → The South Avenue → Kaixia Village at Daxi Township → Guantian Vegetable Base at Daxi Township → Shaluoping Village at Daxi Township
Recommend reason: As the earliest site in the county to enjoy flowers, it enjoys profound cultural deposits. The plum and cherry blossoms have decorated the village into a world of white snow. The sceneries at the naturally-formed site have brought out the best in each other.
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