As the spring weather warms up, people across China are flocking to scenic spots where nature's colors are at their most vibrant.
From northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Jiangxi Province in the east, visitors are immersing themselves in the beauty of blossoms while enjoying the local culture and unique experiences that these regions offer.
In Xinjiang's Turpan, the arrival of spring marks the beginning of the annual almond blossom season. The Nanhu Village, a place famed for its expansive almond orchards, is where over 4,200 hectares of almond trees burst into bloom every year.
This year, some 200,000 tourists began arriving as early as Saturday, eager to witness the white sea of flowers. The landscape changes rapidly, with buds quickly turning into full blooms in just a couple of days.
The picturesque scenery offers visitors a chance to ride horses or camels through the orchards, while local performances and practices, such as traditional Uygur embroidery, acrobatics, and dance, add to the cultural immersion.
Alongside the natural beauty, the air is filled with the enticing aroma of freshly grilled lamb skewers and Nang, a traditional flatbread, drawing passersby to the stalls of local street vendors to sample the authentic local flavors. To accommodate the influx of visitors, the local railway service has adjusted its schedule, adding extra trains between Urumqi and Turpan, ensuring that tourists can easily access the almond blossom viewing sites.
For those driving, the region has also installed over 30 new charging stations for electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, in Jiangxi, the charm of spring unfolds in the rural landscapes of Jinping Miao, Yao, and Dai Autonomous County, where more than 130 hectares of peach orchards are at their peak.
With the arrival of peach blossom season after the spring equinox, the fields offer a kaleidoscope of colors with pink peach blossoms mixing with the white of apricot flowers and the golden yellow of rapeseed blooms.
Visitors are not only here for the floral spectacle but also for the local peach, a prized variety known for its sweetness and early harvest. The peach orchards are not just for sightseers, but also a vital part of the local economy.
Jinping is also enhancing the visitor experience with innovative tourism offerings, letting guests dine on hotpot in fields surrounded by the beauty of the blossoms.
In addition, special folk events are also being held, including dances, ethnic performances and flower parades. These activities not only add a festive spirit to the season but also allow visitors to experience the vibrant local culture up close.
According to latest data, the area has attracted over 1 million tourist visits so far, with single-day attendance peaking at more than 18,000.
Spring blossoms, vibrant experiences captivate tourists nationwide
Spring blossoms, vibrant experiences captivate tourists nationwide
The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) has become more indispensable than ever in today's fast-evolving global landscape, according to Tan Kong Yam, an Emeritus Professor of Economics with the School of Social Sciences, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.
The Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Annual Conference opened on Tuesday in the town of Boao in south China's Hainan Province.
With the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", the four-day forum has attracted nearly 2,000 attendees from more than 60 countries and regions to participate in more than 50 events and many bilateral events, according to the press conference.
"We are currently living through an era of profound global changes, marked by rising geopolitical tension, economic fragmentation, the climate crisis and disruptive technological shift all occurring simultaneously. In such a complex environment, dialog platforms like the Boao Forum for Asia has not diminished in importance, rather they have become even more indispensable than ever before," said Tan.
The BFA provides a distinctive Asian perspective for improving global governance, as well as more opportunities for developing countries and Global South countries to voice their opinions, said Tan.
"Boao has a unique positioning as a high-level dialog platform. Centered on Asia, Boao distinguishes itself from other international forums typically dominated by the West. It provides a valuable opportunity for developing countries, especially those in Asia and the Global South, to make their voices heard. Boao Forum is critical for promoting regional cooperation, especially in key areas such as infrastructure, trade, green development and the digital economy. The forum is a platform for soft power. In an increasingly multi-polar world, Boao helps build trust through dialogs," he said.
Tan also highlighted that Chinese economy shows remarkable resilience, marked by advancements across various sectors, including artificial intelligence.
"The overall outlook for China's economy continues to show strong resilience. Key sectors such as the advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and clean energy are receiving robust policy support. The roll-out of the digital renminbi and the development of smart logistics also indicate that China is actively positioning itself for future economic trends. In recent years, China's progress in the field of artificial intelligence has been remarkable. A particular note is the breakthrough achieved by DeepSeek, which stands as a concentrated expression of China's innovation capacity in AI. It is a result of the synergy between China's national technology strategy, vast market scale, institutional advantages and global outreach. It not only signals China's growing global competitiveness in AI, but also position China as a potential driver of the next global productivity revolution," he said.
The BFA was founded in 2001 and offers a platform for dialogue between leaders from government, business, academia and other organizations to discuss economic, social and environmental issues, promote economic cooperation and support the sustainable development of Asia's economy.
Boao Forum more indispensable in current rapidly-changing world: economist
