Wuhan packs plenty of flower power

Visitors enjoy blooming sakura in Wuhan University in Hubei province. [Photo by Zhou Guoqiang/China Daily]

Every day at this time of year, more than 15,000 people flood into Wuhan University of Central China's Hubei province, eager to enjoy the bountiful cherry blossoms during the country's short and enchanting spring.

The university used to get more than 100,000 visitors a day when the cherry trees on the campus bloom, but that overwhelming traffic has been limited: now, only 15,000 visitors are allowed to enter the campus each day after registration.

Sakura, or cherry blossom, is the national flower of Japan. China's cultivation of cherry blossom dates back to the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC-220 AD) dynasties.

The cherry blossom is only one of the many kinds of flowers that Wuhan offers in the whole year. Visitors from across the country come to Wuhan to appreciate its peonies, azaleas and peach blossoms.

The number of visitors to Wuhan increased rapidly with the establishment of the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway in 2009. In 2013, the city named itself "new flower city" and has invited tourists to enjoy its flowers.

There are 20 flower-appreciating routes in 18 flower-themed parks for tourists this year, including those planted with hundreds of thousands of tulips, sunflowers and lavender.

Cao Dongfa, an officer of the city's Flower Appreciation Office, which was established in 2012, said more than 30 million visitors will be expected to visit Wuhan in 2020.

"By 2020, the income of Wuhan's tourism industry will reach 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion)," Cao said. "We've done plenty of work to provide the best view and service to visitors."

He said that the city has experienced traffic jams, a hotel shortage and many complaints from both locals and visitors with the booming of tourism. The government realized that change was essential for tourism to continue to develop. It has hence approved construction of more hotels and roads, and trained more tour guides.

Even industrial parks of Wuhan have been filled with flowering trees.

Cao Zeyun, president of Goodnight Furniture, said the company has planted more than 56 kinds of cherry trees in its industrial park.

"We now have more than 1,000 cherry trees that cater to droves of visitors," Cao said. "We also have imported flower trees from European countries and North America to make sure that flowers bloom the whole year in the park."

Like many other industrial parks, the furniture park is open to visitors for free.

Contact the writers at cangwei@chinadaily.com.cn