Spring brings rush of domestic flower-viewing trips

With spring in full bloom in most parts of the country and temperatures rising, many are eager to hit the road for weekend getaways. What has become a popular choice for them this year is flower-viewing trips along with short-distance one-day tours and weekend voyages to nearby suburban areas, industry insiders said.

In early March, booking volumes by Chinese tourists of flower-viewing trips nationwide rose by 150 percent year-on-year. A high proportion were families who traveled with their children, said Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.

For long-distance trips, the Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions have seen a 40 percent increase in booking volumes for flower-viewing trips over the same period last year. Demand for private and custom group tours grew significantly compared to the time when there was no COVID-19 pandemic, Qunar said.

"With traveling abroad still stagnating, Tibet and Xinjiang boast unique natural sceneries, rich ethnic customs, and the regions are under good control in terms of the pandemic. Such features are in line with the aspirations of tourists. Correspondingly, the average price of a flower-viewing tour to Tibet recently has increased to 5,000 yuan ($791) per person," said Yang Guanghui, director of vacation products operation at Qunar.

"Since the pandemic, travelers have shown a higher demand for privacy and safety, and they have posted higher requirements in the quality of accommodations and services such as cars, tour guides and photography," Yang said.

This year, a number of attractions have integrated new experiential elements into flower-viewing trips. For instance, Jiayang in Jianwei county, Sichuan province, introduced options for travelers to admire views of flowers during steam train trips. In Tibet, taking some photos in local costumes and shooting aerial photos by drones have become increasingly popular. Many places in Tibet have also launched activities such as camping.

With more experiential activities and high-quality services available, an increasing number of travelers choose to stay one more night near flower-viewing spots. The trend has driven the booking volumes of hotels and bed-and-breakfast businesses, Qunar said.

Nationwide, some of the most popular destinations to view flower blossoms include Nyingchi, Tibet; Ili, Xinjiang; Wuxi, Jiangsu province; Wuyuan, Jiangxi province and Wuhan University in Hubei province, Qunar said.

Wuyuan, known for its rape flowers and countryside views, has seen a sharply growing number of visitors in spring. Between March 5 and May 10 and from 6 am to 10 pm, the local government of Wuyuan usually implements traffic controls for better management of a large number of travelers.

Countrywide, rape flowers, cherry blossoms and peach blossoms have received the most attention, as the varieties are widely planted and their blooming seasons come relatively earlier. Tulips, jacaranda, and peach blossoms stand as the new favorites for visitors this year, according to Suzhou-based online travel agency Tongcheng Travel.

Among visitors, about 30 percent of the total were born after 1990, followed by the age group of those who were born in the 1980s. The proportion of visitors who were born after 2000 has grown rapidly, said Tongcheng Travel.

Meanwhile, a number of destinations and sightseeing spots such as Yuyuantan Park in Beijing have introduced options for travelers to view flowers during the night, especially since it is usually less crowded in the evening, Tongcheng Travel said.