Beijing: Magnolia Flower — the First Flower in Spring

White Magnolia is one of the rarest and most precious flowers in China. What spreads in Beijing is exactly the white magnolia. In old times, Beijing citizens would like call it “Wangchun shu”(expecting Spring), because when white magnolia flowers blossom, spring is coming.

In March, when north China is till covered by white snow, the White Magnolia in China’s capital city begins to blossom. In Zhongnanhai, west Chang’an Street, dozens of white magnolia are in full bloom at the same time. The flowers are as white as snow, blossoming in the wind and reflecting on the red walls and green tiles on the roof, which makes viewers linger around and unwilling to leave. Tanzhe Temple, Dajue Temple and the Summer Palace are all good places for viewing white magnolia. In Tanzhe Temple, Winter sweet and Winter Jasmine are successively in full bloom. They serve as a foil to the elegant and magnificent of White Magnolia. In Dajue Temple, there even grows ancient magnolia for nearly 350 years. I was lucky to see the beautiful flowers in March this year when I joined a Beijing to Xian day tour. And during my Xian tour, I visited the Sakura in Qinglong Temple, which is also eye-catching.

As of the Summer Palace, it is the best place to appreciate white magnolia. The Ziji white magnolia at the back of Leshoutang Palace is said to be planted by Emperor Qinglong in Qing Dynasty(1616-1912). Two hundred years have passed, but the white magnolia still grow vigorously.