China News Service, Kunming, March 26 (Shi Wenzhi) Strolling, playing music, singing, resting, taking photos... In the spring of March, the spring breeze warms the flowers and branches. In recent days, more than 2,000 cherry blossoms and crabapples have bloomed on Yuantong Mountain in Kunming, the "City of Spring". More than 50,000 citizens and tourists come to check in every day.
Yunnan, located in the southwest border of China, is known as the "Garden of the World". The vertical and three-dimensional climate nourishes more than 1,500 kinds of flowers and plants in Yunnan. Cherry blossoms have been planted in Yunnan since the Yuan Dynasty and are now spread throughout Kunming, Dali, Wenshan, Pu'er and other places in the province.
The picture shows citizens and tourists checking in to enjoy cherry blossoms at Yuantong Mountain in Kunming. Photo by China News Service reporter Liu Ranyang
As a flower-viewing event with a century-old history, the "Yantong Cherry Blossom Tide" was officially included in the Yunnan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List in 2017 and became one of the "New Sixteen Scenic Spots in Kunming". During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, Shi Rukui used the words "Bright flowers illuminate the eyes, a spring light shines through. Drunken by the east wind, thousands of reds gather together..." to describe the prosperity of "Yantong Cherry Blossom Tide" in "Jin Tang Dao·Luofeng Instant View" scene.
March and April are the best times for outings and cherry blossom viewing, and cherry blossom viewing has become a favorite of many tourists. Recently, data showed that as of March 21, the search volume related to cherry blossoms increased by 146% month-on-month, and Kunming ranked among the top ten in the country. Since March, the search popularity of "flower viewing and outing" in Yunnan has increased by 257% month-on-month, with Kunming, Yuxi and Qujing ranking among the top three.
The reporter visited and found that since this year, in order to provide tourists with the best cherry blossom viewing experience, Yuantong Mountain has launched a new way to enjoy cherry blossoms. By taking "Sakura+" as the main line, we will create a series of interesting activities covering viewing, shopping, eating, shopping, and walking, and launch cultural and creative products such as cherry blossom ice cream and dragon-shaped ice cream limited to the Year of the Dragon to attract citizens and tourists to check in and try it out.
"Smell the fragrance of cherry blossoms, eat cherry blossom ice cream, and walk under the cherry blossom trees. This feeling is so romantic." Li Juan, a tourist from Guangdong, said that she was "planted" by the beautiful spring scenery of Kunming and wanted to see the spring flowers in Spring City. King, I came here for a quick trip one day ago. "Spring City is full of flowers everywhere, and it truly deserves its reputation."
The picture shows the cherry blossoms blooming in the Sakura Valley behind Yiliang Mountain. Photo by Feng Rui
The Cherry Blossom Valley behind Yiliang Mountain, more than 70 kilometers away from the main city of Kunming, is the largest cherry blossom planting base in the province. From the end of December to late April of the following year, a total of 370,000 cherry blossoms of 61 varieties bloom in sequence. The reporter learned that the place has now developed into a tourist and leisure resort integrating cherry blossom planting, sales, research and viewing. While admiring the flowers, tourists can also taste local specialty beef soup pot, cherry blossom ice cream and other snacks. The cherry blossom viewing economy has boosted the economy. Local villagers have increased their income and become rich.
Cherry blossom banquet, cherry blossom rice wine, cherry blossom cake, cherry blossom milk tea, cherry blossom manicure... At present, the pink "cherry blossom viewing economy" is setting off a new round of consumption boom. The reporter found that when walking on the streets of Yunnan in spring, consumers can not only "see" cherry blossoms, but also experience various cherry blossom economies in terms of "eating", "drinking", "playing", "entertaining" and "living". Recently, Chen Shenghe, a Chinese cooking master and district-level inheritor of Yunnan floral cuisine cooking skills, carefully developed a cherry blossom banquet including 6 dishes including cherry blossom snow foam, cherry blossom pudding, and cherry blossom snow swallow, using cherry blossoms as ingredients. favorite.
At the same time, businesses in scenic spots, travel agencies, hotels and B&Bs, and entertainment and leisure categories across Yunnan are also grasping the "cherry blossom viewing economy" and launching related new products one after another. During this period, in addition to one-day cherry blossom viewing tours, spring Yunnan flower viewing routes such as "Luoping Rapeseed Flowers - Jiajiuzhai Pear Blossom Valley - Yiliang Cherry Blossom Valley - Kunming Jacaranda - Bigu Tianchi Rhododendron" are very popular among tourists.
As the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday approaches, bookings for tourism products across Yunnan are gradually heating up. The "2024 Qingming Festival Tourism Forecast and Insight" released by Ctrip shows that driven by the continued increase in self-driving travel and inbound tourism, Kunming's travel orders during the Qingming Festival increased by 143% year-on-year.
"From the cherry blossoms in March to the jacarandas in April and May, Kunming is a city immersed in flowers all year round. If you like flowers, you must not miss it." Wang Bing, a Kunming citizen, said with a smile, welcoming tourists from all over the world to Kunming. (over)