Chongqing- Plum blossoms, one of the most famous Chinese flowers, originated in south China and were planted for more than 3,000 years. It's the favorite of Chongqingers during winter, as the red plums are scattered in heights and lows everywhere, blooming quietly with a faint fragrance.

With the Spring Festival of 2022 approaching, iChongqing invites You Jiang, a famous cartoonist in Chongqing, who also works as the Executive Vice President of Chongqing Cartoon Society, to join us with a comics series indicating how Chongqing locals celebrate with their Spring Festival. 

"Whether in flower markets or ordinary streets, farmers are carrying cages that full of budding plum blossoms in the streets and alleys, selling to the locals," said You. 

The Spring Festival begins on the 23rd of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, which is 1st February this year. Locals in Chongqing like to decorate their homes with light-yellow plum blossoms during the Spring Festival because the petals of the plum blossoms are fragrant, making people feel pleased.

Fun facts about plum blossom

Chinese people love plum blossoms. While plum blossom is the official name of the plant, Chinese people refer to it as "mei," meaning "flowering plum" or "winter plum."

The ancient Chinese regarded plum blossoms as brave, pure, and noble, are one of the three "friends of winter," along with bamboo and pine. As you can imagine, all these winter friends are chosen for their hardiness. One of the few plants that can bloom through the harsh conditions of the cold winter months, it represents the value of endurance, resilience, and diligence in the face of hardships.

The plum blossoms typically in mid-winter during January and February when all flowers die, and the land is pale in color. The plum trees can grow to 4–10 meters tall, and the flowers with five petals in the bright shades of red, pink, and yellow have a refreshing fragrant scent.