'Flower tours' blossom across China

Tourists in Meishan city, Sichuan province, March 14, 2015. [Photo/IC]

A 53-hectare cherry blossom park will open in southwest China's Meishan city in Sichuan province. The park will feature six km of river bank planted with cherry trees. Tens of thousands of flowering cherry trees of more than 20 varieties will be planted in the park over the next two years.

Peonies have a rich history and tradition in China. A month-long festival celebrating the flower will be held starting April 5 in central China's Luoyang, a city that has been growing peonies for more than 1,500 years.

"The iconic blossom, unlike the tulip in the Netherlands or lavender in Provence, is still little known to foreign visitors," said the organizer.

"China's flower tourism has huge potential, but it has to look beyond immediate gains and give due attention to the environment. We have to learn to combine our various flowers with distinctive cultural elements," said Li Tianshu, director of Hua Yuan Travel Company.