Flocking to flowers

A growing number of people visit Beijing's parks to enjoy the colorful blossoms of mountain peaches, apricots and cherries. [Photos By Wei Xiaohao/China Daily and Xinhua]

Petal power propels travel around the capital during the spring season. Xu Lin reports.

Beijing is blooming. And this is luring a growing number of people to its parks and scenic spots to enjoy the fireworks of flowers as they approach full blast.

This is the best time of the year to view such colorful blossoms as mountain peaches, apricots and cherries in the city.

Peng Yang, her husband and their 4-year-old recently visited the capital's Yuyuantan Park to see cherry trees in full bloom. They also invited three families of her daughter's kindergarten classmates.

"The children were curious about nature and enjoyed one another's company," Peng says.

The kids initially tried to pick the prettiest flowers until their parents intervened.

"Then they tried to catch the tiny petals that wafted from the trees with outstretched hands," she says.

"They also enjoyed snapping photos of their favorite flowers. They were so excited to see the yellow winter jasmine that they read its name aloud. They'd just learned about it in class."