As delicate pink petals blanket parks and riversides, Wuxi, a scenic city in the Chinese mainland's Jiangsu Province, launched its annual International Cherry Blossom Festival on Thursday. The event has quickly become a cultural landmark, attracting flower enthusiasts, photographers, and travelers from over 50 countries and regions.
This year's festival integrates traditional Chinese horticulture with immersive tech displays, featuring night blossom illuminations projected onto historic architecture. Tourism officials report a 30% increase in hotel bookings compared to last year, signaling strong recovery in East China's leisure sector.
"Our cherry blossoms symbolize the harmony between urban development and nature," said Wuxi Cultural Bureau Director Li Wei during the opening ceremony, highlighting the city's sustainable tourism initiatives. Local artisans demonstrate Jiangsu-style silk embroidery under blooming trees, while international food stalls offer regional delicacies from Osaka to Seoul.
With over 150,000 cherry trees across 21 viewing zones, the festival runs through April 28. Visitors can navigate via an AI-powered app that tracks bloom cycles and crowd density in real time – a boon for digital nomads exploring Asia's spring destinations.
