Ningbo's upcoming beauty is truly breathtaking.
After five years in Ningbo, I've discovered that the city's four seasons are like a secret code hidden within the blooming and falling flowers! From the cherry blossom rain in March, the azaleas in April, to the pink muhly grass in September… Today, I'm sharing my personal flower calendar to help you unlock the limited-time romance of each month.
🌸March Cherry Blossom Blast: Sakura Park
📍Address: Zhongshan East Road, Yinzhou District (Subway Sakura Park Station, Exit B)
🚗Off-the-beaten-path route: Rush into the south gate before 7am and head straight to the east side of the viewing corridor to enjoy the entire cherry blossom forest all to yourself! Wear a light-colored sweater + denim skirt, and film a twirling video against the light. The petals create their own pink soft-focus effect.
🍡Hidden treat: The mugwort mochi sold by the grandma with a cart at the exit is 3 yuan/piece, warm and stringy, dipped in soybean powder, it's so delicious you'll lick your fingers.
⚠️Note: The crowds on weekend afternoons are comparable to the Spring Festival travel rush. It's recommended to bring a folding stool for low-angle shots.
Last week, I tagged along with a Hanfu photography group and got three ancient-style photos😂
🌼March-April Rapeseed Flower Wonderland: Dayan Xifan Village, Fenghua
📍Address: Xifan Village, Dayan Town, Fenghua District
📸Secret photo spot: The abandoned waterwheel at the highest point of the terraced fields. Use a wide-angle lens to frame the golden waves + the tiled village. Posting this on your Moments will have everyone asking if you're in Wuyuan.
🚗Road trip bonus: Set your navigation to "Baikeng Reservoir." There's a wild viewing platform at the corner of the mountain road, perfect for capturing photos of your car + the sea of flowers.
👒Outfit tips: Straw bag + floral dress = automatically blend into a pastoral painting.
Remember to wear non-slip shoes! The dew on the ridges can make you waltz.
🌺April Azalea Feast: Siming Mountain Panoramic Highway
📍Address: Panxi Village, Longguan Township, Haishu District
🗺️Unconventional route: Don't go to Xuedou Mountain with the crowds! Drive 10 kilometers along the Xibei Line to encounter the wild azalea slopes in shades of red and pink. A 20-minute hike will take you to a cliff-side viewing platform, with a sea of clouds and flowers rolling beneath your feet.
🎒Gear list: Mini oxygen tank (altitude 800 meters) + windproof jacket. The April mountain wind is colder than your ex.🥶
🍱Lunchbox inspiration: Pack some Aizi meat pies from Gulou. The hawthorn flavor is a perfect match for the mountain scenery.
🌷March-April Tulip Paradise: Yinzhou Park
📍Address: 1018 Shounan Middle Road, Yinzhou District
🎨Color palette secrets: On cloudy days, capture a cool-toned oil painting feel by lowering the exposure + vibrance on your phone. On sunny days, increase the saturation to capture the same vibrant colors as in Holland.
🕶️Clever props: Transparent umbrella (for a rainy day atmosphere) + retro newspaper (a magical tool for blocking passersby).
🍜Nearby food: The seaweed rice cakes at "Nuòjīji Kingdom" at the west gate of the park are 10 yuan/bowl and incredibly fresh.
Last week, I saw an old man arranging tulips into a heart shape. Romance truly knows no age!
📦Spring Flower Viewing Emergency Kit
• Anti-pollen mask: A lifesaver for those with rhinitis.
• Foldable reflector: A4 paper size, fits in your bag, instantly brightens your portraits.
• Portable stain remover pen: Deals with bee poop in the rapeseed fields.
• Mini tripod: Essential for recording slow-motion falling petals.
• Windproof safety pins: Saves your straw hat from being blown away by the wind.
My best friend's scarf was blown away on Siming Mountain last year, and it's still a hilarious story in our Moments.😂
🍃Year-round Flower Viewing Trivia
1️⃣ Ningbo Botanical Garden has the unique sight of plum blossoms and cherry blossoms blooming together in March. Miss it, and you'll have to wait a year.
2️⃣ The pear blossoms in Limin Village, Dongqian Lake, are at their peak in April, and the combination with the lake view resembles an ink painting.
3️⃣ The plum blossoms in Gengmin Park, Zhouxiang, Cixi, bloom profusely in March. Wear Hanfu and film a Xianxia drama without needing to edit the background.
4️⃣ The peach blossoms in the Xiangshan Film and Television City's Peach Blossom Garden are even more stunning than the set design of "Eternal Love."
5️⃣ The snowball viburnum in Ningbo Garden Museum blooms into a snowy wonderland in April. Wear JK uniforms and take Japanese-style photos. It's the best!
Ningbo's flowers are like grandma's bayberry wine—you think you've tasted all the sweetness and sourness, but then you encounter a new surprise around the corner. You must come to Ningbo for these flowers. After all, some scenery is like the magnolia flowers on the branches, just out of reach, but that trembling anticipation is the sweetest part of the journey.