Hangzhou Early Spring | The latest flower report from Prince Bay

March in West Lake, as the "top" event in Hangzhou's spring flower viewing circle, many people are wondering whether the tulips in Prince Bay have bloomed. So, on the morning of March 2nd, I went to Prince Bay Park to bring everyone the latest flower forecast. Every year, Prince Bay hosts a tulip exhibition, and this year is no exception. There are still 400,000 tulips, covering an area of about 8,000 square meters. The planting areas include Wangshanping, Xiaoyao Slope, Youran Pavilion, Rose Garden, Hand-in-Hand Statue Area, and both sides of the main river bay. In addition to tulips, there are also daffodils, grape hyacinths, silver lotus flowers, and other varieties. When the cherry blossoms, magnolias, and crabapple flowers bloom, Prince Bay Park in spring will be a representative of a blooming paradise. Before eight o'clock in the morning, entering from the west gate of the park and walking along the hillside towards Xiaoyao Slope, the sunlight sprinkles on the mountain forest lawn. It's rare for the park to have such a peaceful and leisurely moment. On an open space next to the small church, where premium tulips are planted, I found that only a small patch resembling daffodils had bloomed, the rest were still lush green. After a careful search, I finally saw a few purple Ali's flower buds on the edge of the steps, adding other colors to this green area. Near the Youran Pavilion, the lake water is so clear that you can see the underwater grass. The newly sprouted willow branches hang down finely, and the reflection of the scenery also fully displays the beauty of the park. Looking towards the South Mountain Road side, the cherry blossoms by the water have not yet budded, but the metasequoias are tall and straight, and the lawn is emerald green. The scenery of spring has quietly arrived, and one can imagine how stunning the cherry blossoms will be when they bloom. Coming to Xiaoyao Slope, this is the area with the largest planting of tulips. Not only is it empty, but in the entire green area, not a hint of color can be seen. The most vivid color in the park is still a plum tree next to Qingyin Pavilion, full of red, showing joy amidst the cold. However, what surprised me was that next to the big windmill, I actually saw two pink cherry trees in bloom. The scientific name is 'Campanula Cherry'. This cherry tree is native to China and blooms in early spring. The flowers are pink and dense, known as 'Early Beauty' and 'Spring Herald Cherry'. Although it has not yet reached the peak blooming period, the romance blooming under the blue sky is also a symbol of West Lake's early spring. 👉🏾Prince Bay Flower Viewing Check-in Strategy 1⃣️This year, the temperature in Hangzhou is lower than usual, and the tulips have not yet come into season by early March. It is expected that the viewing period will start around March 10th, and the best viewing period (cherry blossoms and tulips together) will be in mid to late March, which is from March 15-25. 2⃣️Prince Bay Park is free of charge, and there is no need to make a reservation usually. However, reservations are required during the flower exhibition period, which can be made through the official WeChat account of 'Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area'. If it's really impossible to make a reservation, you can enter before 8:00 or after 17:00. For those who wish to take photos and check in, around 7:30 in the morning is the best time. 3⃣️The nearest bus stops are 'Sudi' and 'Chishanbu'. If taking the subway, you can get off at 'Wushan Square' on Line 7 or 'Ding'an Bridge' on Line 1, and then ride a bike to get there, which takes about half an hour. It is not recommended to take the bus during the peak season, as the roads are too congested.