Plum blossom signals the arrival of early spring. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Plum blossom signals the arrival of early spring. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Flocks of plum trees are in full blossom at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden in Sheshan National Resort, brightening up the bleak landscape and adding up some warmth to the cold winter.

There are hundreds of plum trees of more than 50 varieties in different colors, casting beautiful shades on the poppy hills with tender fragrance.

Plum blossom is a native and traditional ornamental in South China, with a history of over 3,000 years, and belongs to a specific range in the rose family. As an image of blessing, ancient scholars and poets wrote several pieces about it. The full blossom scenery usually comes 10 days around the 'Waking of Insects' in solar terms, which falls on Mar 16 in 2015.