Best Locations & Dates To See Cherry Blossoms In China

Cherry blossoms in China

Although we’re right in the thick of the holiday season as we speak, forward-looking vacationers will already have started planning out their 2025 trips way ahead of time. That’s because the cherry blossom season beckons during the earlier months of the year, making travelling to Sakura-dense countries such as Japan and Korea all the more worthwhile during those few weeks.

But, did you know that China also sees its fair share of cherry blossoms come spring? Many cities in China have become tourist hotspots this year, and soon it’s going to be all the more crowded with masses jetting over to watch the pink petals flutter in the breeze. If pretty flower-filled vistas are just your thing, here’s all you need to know about the cherry blossoms in China.

P.S, here’s a handy map showing the locations of the following spots to see cherry blossoms in China on Google Maps, if you’d like to add them to your itinerary right from the jump.

The current exchange rate is ¥5.36 = S$1 as of 19th December 2024.

Table of Contents

Cherry blossoms in China

When is cherry blossom season in China?

The cherry blossom season in China spans from approximately mid-February to early May, which is a couple of weeks longer than the blooms over in Japan and Korea. But, the blooming period of the cherry blossom trees themselves is similar amongst the 3 countries, and lasts about 2 weeks.

Thankfully, the Chinese New Year festivities in 2025 will happen earlier than usual, as China will be celebrating their most significant annual festival from 28th January to 4th February 2025. This means that there’s ample time for the crowds celebrating the new year to die down right before the beginning of the cherry blossom season in China.

What to expect during cherry blossom season in China

Although you’ll be siam-ing the CNY crowd, that doesn’t mean that the locations where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom won’t be packed. You’ll still run into hoards of tourists and locals alike trying to get a glimpse of the cherry blossoms, so head to the parks early in the morning to get the flowers all to yourself.

Image adapted from: 冬苘winter & 你今天又没吃饱吗 via RED

Some spots will also allow you to rent traditional Chinese costumes, also known as Hanfu, for around ¥50 for 2 hours, which is perfect for photoshoots to update the ‘Gram with. Also, sakura-shaped popsicles are the dessert of choice for many during the cherry blossom season.

Starbucks in China even gave out free roses with drinks during the cherry blossom season in 2023.
Image credit: 可可爱爱小趴菜 via RED

Famous F&B joints such as Starbucks and Chagee will also be sprucing up their menus with limited time items that are inspired by the blooms, and you might even stumble upon pop-up stores selling ornate floral-themed trinkets to serve as mementos of your time in China.

WeChat has a built-in translation feature so booking your tickets isn’t too much of a hassle.
Image adapted from: Khoo Yong Hao

You might need to purchase tickets to some of these spots via WeChat, as they don’t have official websites that you can search up on Google to buy your tickets. If you’re not with a tour guide who might have already settled admission for you, you’ll have to search up the locations in Mandarin on the app, head to their WeChat page, and purchase tickets or book a slot from there.

To save you the hassle of looking up the Mandarin names for these locations to plonk into WeChat, we’ve included them for you to copy-paste into your app.

1. Yuyuantan Park, Beijing (玉渊潭公园)

Image credit: 董小贝 via RED

Beijing’s probably the most visited city in China, so it’s only befitting that it plays host to one of the most beautiful parks in the country to spend the cherry blossom season at. Located about a 25-minute drive from the city centre, the famous Yuyantan Park draws in the masses once spring has sprung, as it gets transformed into a dreamy, pink-hued getaway.

Image credit: Felix via RED

A loop around the park is only 1.8km long, making leisurely strolls here perfect even if you’re travelling with the little ones or the elderly. Keep an eye out for the colourful mandarin ducks waddling around the lake, and get your cameras out for the huge China Central Radio and Television Tower that can be seen jutting out amidst the cherry blossom trees.

Image adapted from: 迟迟钟鼓 & 山里 via RED

Speaking of which, 180 of these trees were given as gifts from the Japanese government back in the 1970s, and today, there are over 3,000 of them. When the sun gets too overbearing, cool down with sakura-shaped popsicles (from ¥35) that you can buy at a nearby ice cream stand, or swing by this roving Starbucks stand for your morning coffee.

When to visit: 29th March – 13th April
Admission: ¥10/pax, book tickets via Yuyuantan Park’s official WeChat page
Address: No.107 Xisanhuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Opening hours: 6am-9.30pm, Daily (Last entry at 9pm)
How to get there: Take a 6-hour direct flight from Singapore to Beijing Capital International Airport via Singapore Airlines or Air China. The park is about a 45-minute drive from the airport.

2. Gucun Park, Shanghai (顾村公园)

Image credit: 王小猫 via RED

On the contrary, if you’re looking for an expansive park to roam while taking in the sights during the cherry blossom season, then Gucun Park in Shanghai is the place to be. Calling it huge is an understatement, as it’s about 4.3sqkm big. For comparison, Singapore’s largest park, Chestnut Nature Park, measures a little over 0.8sqkm.

Image credit: 多多麻麻 via RED

As such, it holds the distinction of having the greatest concentration of cherry blossom trees in all of Shanghai – the park contains over 16,000 of them, spread over 120 different species. For the best views of Gucun Park, hitch a ride on the towering 50m tall ferris wheel (¥50/pax), where you’ll be able to gaze at the cotton-candy like canopies as you hang in the sky.

Image adapted from: 朱先森爱摄影 via RED, @meetinshanghai via Instagram

Other picturesque photo spots include this pastel windmill to pose beside that stands tall in the middle of a field of pink reeds, as well as a rose garden near the park’s Exit 3 that’s said to have roses that grow to the size of a human head.

Book tickets to Gucun Park.

When to visit: 11th March – 15th April
Admission: ¥30/pax
Address: No. 4788 Hutai Road, Gucun Town, Baoshan District, Shanghai
Opening hours: 6am-6pm, Daily (Last entry at 4.30pm)
How to get there: Take a 5-hour direct flight from Singapore to Shanghai Pudong International Airport via Singapore Airlines or China-Eastern Airlines. The park is about a 50-minute drive from the airport.

3. Wuhan University, Wuhan (武汉大学)

Image credit: suki酱 via RED

A school might be the last place you’d think to visit during the cherry blossom season, but many flock to Wuhan University in March to soak in the sights as the campus becomes wreathed with shades of pink. The cherry blossom trees that flank the roads leading to lecture halls and classrooms spring to life, turning the school into a mini tourist attraction for a few weeks.

There’s even a road within Wuhan University called Cherry Blossom Road.
Image credit: 步步GlOria via RED

Every year, students of the university will volunteer to serve as guides for the many visitors who want to tour its grounds. They even double as makeshift photographers so you don’t have to keep relying on 0.5 selfies to document your visit.

Image credit: 收藏佳 via RED

But, if you’d rather do some sightseeing on your own, do make a stop at the palatial Administration Building and its surrounding premises. The combination of the flowering cherry blossoms swaying in the foreground of the historical structures of yesteryear definitely make for postcard-worthy snaps.

When to visit: 15th March – 27th March
Admission: Free, reserve slots at least 3 days in advance via Wuhan University’s official website
Address: 299 Bayi Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm | Sat-Sun 8am-6pm
How to get there: Take a 5-hour direct flight from Singapore to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport via Scoot or China-Eastern Airlines. The university is about a 48-minute drive from the airport.

4. East Lake Cherry Blossom Park, Wuhan (东湖樱花园)

Image credit: 撒拉哈的马里奥 via RED

If you’re planning to head to Wuhan University for the upcoming cherry blossom season, you might as well also put East Lake Cherry Blossom Park on your itinerary. It’s just an 18-minute drive from the university, and promises equally as stunning scenes for a whole day’s worth of flower viewing.

The huge pagoda in the park lights up beautifully at night.
Image credit: Trip.com

Fun fact: the cherry blossom trees that populate the park were initially planted by the Japanese during their occupation of Wuhan during World War 2 in order to combat their homesickness. Today, the locals have conflicted feelings about the gorgeous sea of pink that washes over the park annually, as the delicate petals serve as a stark reminder of the trying times.

Image adapted from: 收藏佳 via RED

Nonetheless, East Lake Cherry Blossom Park is still a prime location for many to enjoy the festivities of the sakura season. For those on the prowl for IG-worthy backdrops, there’s a small pagoda along a boardwalk to admire the view, along with Japanese-style buildings and wooden rowboats bobbing in the lake to immerse yourself in your surroundings.

When to visit: 15th March – 31st March
Admission: ¥60/pax, book tickets via East Lake Cherry Blossom Park’s official WeChat page
Address: 1 East Lake Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan
Opening hours: 7am-10pm, Daily
How to get there: Take a 5-hour direct flight from Singapore to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport via Scoot or China-Eastern Airlines. The park is about an hour’s drive from the airport.

5. Longwangtang Cherry Blossom Park, Dalian (龙王塘樱花园)

Further up North-East, travellers to Dalian can make a beeline for Longwangtang Cherry Blossom Park to watch white and pink flowers carpet the ground from mid-April to early-May.

Image credit: 行游大连 (大连文旅) via RED

Although it’s not as big as the other parks on this list, those living in the area have crowned it as their go-to spot every cherry blossom season. As a result, you’ll spot tonnes of families laying out their picnic mats for some fun in the sun in the wide, open areas of the park, while others have set up tents to tide them through the night.

Image credit: OFNA via RED

Within the park, there are 10 cherry blossom trees that are documented to be at least 100 years old, which stands alongside a famous century-old magnolia tree that originated from Osaka. The park is also bordered by a giant dam that was built by the Japanese in the 1920s, and stairs that go around the body of water are constantly blanketed by layers of pink petals.

Image adapted from: 小时爱拍照 via RED

Benches in the park are aplenty, and once you’ve caught your breath, you can have a gander at the nearby historic World War 2 site, where a fierce battle between the Japanese and Russian armies once ravaged.

Book tickets to Longwangtang Cherry Blossom Park.

When to visit: 16th March – 6th April
Admission: ¥20/pax
Address: No.1 Guoshuixi Road, Lushunkou District, Dalian
Opening hours: 8am-5pm, Daily
How to get there: Take a 4-hour connecting flight from Singapore to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and then a 3-hour 20 minute flight to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport via Xiamen Airlines. The park is about a 55-minute drive from the airport.

6. Yongfu Cherry Blossom Garden, Zhangping (永福樱花茶旅景区)

Image credit: 何陈文 via RED

If a place has been featured on the cover of a Nat Geo magazine, it’s a pretty good indication that its views are nothing short of otherworldly. Laying claim to that feat is Yongfu Cherry Blossom, a tea plantation that’s also peppered with cherry blossom trees. Rows of them can be spotted running along the roads that cut through the plantation’s verdant greenery, giving them a contrasting pop of colour.

Image credit: 松子到此一游 via RED

Feel free to stand amongst the shrubbery to take in the invigorating smell of tea leaves. By the way, there are over 40 varieties of cherry blossoms to see, and since there are so many different species here, you can drop by from late-January all the way to mid-March and still be in time for the blooms.

Image adapted from: 羊羊(许嵩官方认证娘子版) via RED, Trip.com

Don’t forget to hop aboard a pretty pink train (¥50/pax) that goes round the hills, and make a pit stop at the tea house where you can sip on the freshest of brews and dainty pastures while taking in the magnificent scenery.

When to visit: 25th January – 15th March
Admission: ¥50/pax, book tickets via Yongfu Cherry Blossom Garden’s official WeChat page
Address: Taipin Cherry Blossom Garden, Yongfu Town, Zhangping
Opening hours: 8am-9pm, Daily
How to get there: Take a 4-hour direct flight from Singapore to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport. The garden is about a 2-hour drive from the airport.

7. Yuantouzhu, Wuxi (鼋头渚)

For a spot to appreciate the cherry blossoms that’s arguably more spectacular at night than during the day, look no further than Yuantouzhu. Also known as Turtle Head Isle because of how its peaks resemble a turtle poking its head of the water, this peninsula is already a tourist magnet due to its picture-perfect hills and lakeside views.

Image credit: 一只不安分的阿May via RED

However, cherry blossom season is where Yuantouzhu sees an influx of visitors, as the entire landscape is enveloped by over 30,000 sakura trees blooming in unison.

Image adapted from: 一只不安分的阿May & 永远在旅行的TQ via RED

To get a glimpse of the cherry blossoms in all their glory, scale the majestic pagoda and bust out your camera to capture the view from above. There’s also a bridge that’s also a popular photo spot, where delicate flower petals fall and swirl in the water beneath your feet.

Image credit: 希源柯克 via RED

But, the real magic happens once dusk falls, when the lights switch on from 5pm to 9pm daily and illuminate the trees, pagoda, and bridges around the peninsula. Even the boats in the lake are lined with bright LED lights, bathing the whole area in a warm glow reminiscent of scenes from a Ghibli film.

When to visit: 18th March – 7th April
Admission: ¥90/pax, book tickets via Yuantouzhu’s official WeChat page or the Wuxi Yuantouzhu website
Address: 1 Yuanzhu Road, Bin Hu District, Wuxi
Opening hours: 8am-9pm, Daily
How to get there: Take a 5-hour 20 minute direct flight from Singapore to Sunan Shuofang International Airport via Jetstar. The garden is about a 36-minute drive from the airport.

8. Zhongshan Park, Qingdao (中山公园)

Image credit: @Sitara.星迴 via RED

Not to be confused with a park in Singapore with the exact same name, Qingdao’s Zhongshan Park has been dubbed by locals as the city’s “Flower Sea”. That’s because the park is decorated with numerous beds of flowers that make for great photo ops. Particularly, the park is known for their colourful clusters of tulips, which greet visitors in vibrant hues of pink, yellow, and red.

Image credit: 小乔Cherry via RED

Once the annual cherry blossom season hits, that’s when the park really gets lively. Since the park is free to enter without any booking whatsoever, you’ll spot a sea of selfie sticks emerging from the crowds, along with tourists donning Hanfu to snap pics amongst the pink sakura blooms.

Image adapted from: 蛋蛋妮儿儿, 是你的桃子呀 via RED

Do keep an eye out for any pop-ups set up around the park on your visit; last year saw an unapologetically pink Chagee booth that gave out complimentary balloon flowers with drinks. For more things to do, the Qingdao Zoo (from ¥8.50/pax) is also located within the park, where you can wave hello to animals such as giant pandas, lemurs, and an elusive white tiger.

When to visit: 10th April – 25th April
Admission: Free
Address: No.28 Wendeng Road, Shinan District, Qingdao
Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily
How to get there: Take a 6-hour direct flight from Singapore to Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport via Scoot. The garden is about an hour’s drive from the airport.

Plan a trip to China for cherry blossom season in 2025

If you’ve already been to Japan or Korea one too many times for the annual cherry blossom season, then consider heading over to China for the blooms in 2025. You’ve got plenty of jaw-dropping spots to choose from, and flights to China are also generally cheaper as well, so if you want to view the sakura on a budget, now you know where to jet off to.

For more things to do in China:

Cover image adapted from: 王小猫, 松子到此一游 & 希源柯克 via RED