The Best Time, Places, and Tips for Enjoying Plum Blossoms in Suzhou

The best time to enjoy plum blossoms in Suzhou is from February to March every year. The Plum Blossom Festival is held annually in Suzhou's Xishan, a tradition that dates back to the Tang Dynasty and has a history of over five hundred years. This period is also the prime time for the early spring custom of 'strolling and admiring plum blossoms' in Suzhou, marking the grand opening of the city's tourism and festival activities. Some travelers may know the best time to enjoy the plum blossoms in Suzhou, but where are the best spots to view them? Let me summarize them for you. 1. Suzhou Xishan The Xishan scenic area is one of the main spots for plum blossom viewing in Suzhou, and it hosts the Plum Blossom Festival every year. The festival reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Xishan is the largest plum blossom viewing base in China, with more than thirty varieties. The spectacle during the full bloom of the Plum Blossom Festival is magnificent. Plum Blossom Festival Time: February to mid-March Plum Blossom Festival History: Over 500 years Plum Blossom Festival Ticket: 50 RMB per person per visit Plum Blossom Festival Location: No. 158 Linwu Road, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province (Linwu Cave Scenic Area in Xia Village, Jinting Town) Transportation: You can take bus No. 58, or drive there, just navigate to Linwu Cave Scenic Area Recommended Visiting Duration: 1-4 hours 2. Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden The Humble Administrator's Garden, a representative work of classical gardens in the south of the Yangtze River, was built in the early years of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over four hundred years. It is also one of the four famous gardens in China. During this time from February to March, whether on weekends or weekdays, you can enjoy the plum blossoms here. Plum Blossom Viewing Spot: Near the Tingyu Pavilion, Fucui Pavilion, and the Eighteen Arhats Hall in the Humble Administrator's Garden. Plum Blossom Ticket: 70 RMB per person in the off-season, 90 RMB per person in the peak season; Bus: Bus No. 40, 529, 55, and several other buses can get you there. Recommended Visiting Duration: 1-2 hours 3. Lingering Garden The Lingering Garden, also one of Suzhou's classical gardens, was built during the Ming Dynasty and is commonly known as 'Liu Yuan.' It is one of the four famous gardens in China. The plum blossoms in the Lingering Garden bloom from December to January each year. Especially the two plum trees in front of Guanyun Peak are particularly splendid. At this time, when you pass by the Lingering Garden, you can smell the fragrance of the plum blossoms. Plum Blossom Time: End of December to January Plum Blossom Spot: The two yellow plum trees in front of Guanyun Peak and the plum trees in the West Garden (the largest in national crown width) Recommended Visiting Duration: 2 hours 4. Xiangxuehai Xiangxuehai in Suzhou is one of the good places to enjoy plum blossoms. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited this place six times to enjoy the spring and plum blossoms. There is still an imperial stele from Qianlong's time in the scenic area today. Plum Blossom Time: February to March every year, the best time is during the Suzhou Plum Blossom Festival Public Transportation: Bus No. 63, 64, 65 can reach this place, and you can also drive here to enjoy the plum blossoms. Ticket: 20 RMB per person. Recommended Visiting Duration: 1-2 hours 5. Yi Pu Yi Pu, built in 1541, is also one of China's ancient gardens. The plum blossoms here are not as well-known as the other four places mentioned above, but they are also very beautiful when in full bloom. It is a good place in Suzhou to enjoy plum blossoms. Visiting here, you can avoid the noise and enjoy the tranquility, strolling among the rockeries and smelling the fragrance of plum blossoms, which is particularly intoxicating. Transportation: Bus No. 31, 54, 33, and several other buses can get you there Ticket: 10 RMB per person Navigation Location: No. 5 Wenyafang, Gusu District (near Wuqufang) Recommended Visiting Duration: 1 hour In addition to the five classic plum blossom viewing spots mentioned above, there are many other places in Suzhou where you can enjoy plum blossoms, such as the plum blossoms in Xiyuan Temple, a few plum trees along Beisita Road, and several old plum trees in Zijin'an in Wudong Middle District of Suzhou. Of course, there are also the plum blossoms in Suzhou University, along the Baimajian route, and so on, which I will not list one by one here. In short, Suzhou's spring is a city filled with fragrance, and it is also the time to enjoy plum blossoms in early spring. No matter where you choose to go in Suzhou to enjoy the plum blossoms, it's best to set off early, otherwise, there will be a lot of people. Now is the perfect time to enjoy the plum blossoms, and for those who haven't set off yet, seize the last few days, or you'll have to wait another year. Suzhou·Jiangsu