Price of beauty

Pollen allergy and the smell of plants in spring are becoming increasingly annoying for many people in Beijing and other northern cities. More and more people have been complaining of stuffy nose, sore eyes or skin infection, or sneezing frequently as weather gets warm. They heave a sigh of relief only after learning about flower pollens or the smell of plants, and console themselves that irritation or ailment is the price they have to pay for enjoying spring.

Flowers and plants that cause these irritations or aliments have increased rapidly over the past few decades in most northern cities because urban planners have planted many plants from other regions or even abroad.

Northerners used to appreciate the beauty and fragrance of flowers like peony. But now they have dozens of flowers to enjoy as soon as the first warm breeze blows, heralding the coming of spring. Tulips, which northerners used to see only on TV or in pictures, have been planted in many parks and botanical gardens. And since urban families nowadays love to spend some time in parks and botanical gardens, they become susceptible to the allergies.