Chongqing — This winter has brought a delightful surprise to parks across Chongqing: red plum blossoms have arrived about half a month early, creating a rare overlap with the peak blooming season of fragrant wintersweet. For residents and visitors, this means a unique opportunity to enjoy two seasonal flowers at once—a sight not often seen.
On a recent sunny afternoon, people flocked to parks across the city to catch the early display. At Zhaomushan Forest Park, a vivid crimson blanket of plum blossoms covers the hillside. Over on Gele Mountain, the air is sweet with the scent of red plums in the Hongyan Scenic Area, drawing crowds with cameras in hand.
Hong’en Temple Forest Park in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing. Residents stop to take pictures of red plum blossoms in the park. (Photo/Yang Ruixi)
Meanwhile, wintersweet is now in its best viewing period. In Jingguan Town, vast stretches are in full golden bloom, filling the air with fragrance. The yellow flowers are also appearing at the Chongqing Garden Expo Park and in several other urban parks.
"Wintersweet is currently at its peak, but red plum blossoms have bloomed about half a month earlier than usual this year," said Liu Jie, a park landscaping administrator at Zhaomushan Forest Park. As a result, visitors can see both flowers at the same time, despite their typically different blooming periods.
Zhaomushan Forest Park in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing. Residents pause beneath winter-sweet trees, enjoying their fragrance. (Photo/Yang Ruixi)
The rare overlap has created what visitors describe as a "dual plum bloom," with the vibrant red of plum blossoms contrasting with the subdued elegance of yellow wintersweet, forming a scene that reflects the subtle transition of the seasons.
Red plum blossoms usually emerge in early spring. Their early arrival this year is largely linked to climatic conditions, Liu said. Meteorological data show that Chongqing’s average temperature from December to the present has been about 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the historical average. While brief cold spells occurred, overall temperatures rebounded quickly and remained relatively stable.
In addition, careful water and fertilizer management, along with healthy tree growth, may have made the plants more responsive to climate signals. Urban parks are also affected by the heat island effect, further accelerating flowering, Liu said.
"However, this is not yet the best time to view red plum blossoms," he added. "In about half a month, the flowers will display richer colors and fuller petals."