Wuhan’s East Lake Cherry Blossom Park 东湖樱花园
One of the Most Beautiful Campuses in China
It is well known amongst the Chinese that Wuhan University has one of the most beautiful campuses in the whole country. The school is located on a wooded refuge that seems to break away from the urban sprawl which is Wuhan. Surrounded on three sides by the famous East Lake, it is no wonder that tourists from both China and abroad would flock to this prestigious University.
Once a year the school further secures its spot as the most beautiful campus in China with its cherry blossoms. When the Japanese occupied Wuhan during World War II, many Japanese soldiers longed for seeing their families back home. In order to combat this case of homesickness, the Imperial Japanese Army planted hundreds of cherry blossom trees to make Wuhan a little more like back home. Today, the Chinese have mixed feelings about the gorgeous sea of pink which washes over the city every year. As beautiful as the delicate petals may be, they still represent the ruthless occupation of the Imperial Japanese.
Wuhan Univerity’s campus is the perfect place to spend a day strolling through the many winding trails and exploring the many stunning traditional buildings. During the Cherry Blossom Festival, however, the narrow lanes are packed to the brim with tourists from all over the country. In addition, the actual number of cherry blossom trees on campus is quite few. This means you will find thousands of selfie-stick wielding tourists crowding around a handful of trees. For those still looking to check out the cherry blossoms in Wuhan, you do have an alternative: East Lake Cherry Blossom Park.
Want to get off the beaten track in Wuhan? Check out this article here!
Getting to East Lake Cherry Blossom Park
On the banks of Wuhan’s famous East Lake, you will find several parks where you can spread your legs and enjoy the cherry blossoms without feeling like you are packed in like a sardine. This is not to say there are no crowds at Wuhan’s Cherry Blossom Park, just less. It is possible to walk to Mo Shan (磨山) and the nearby Cherry Blossom Park with the recently renovated boardwalk stretching along the East Lake.
For those not looking to stroll or bike along the lake, buses are fairly easy to find. If you are arriving when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, buses to the park are designated with signs in the window pointing out that they offer a direct service. Buses 401, 402, 413, 115, and 643 will take you straight to the sakura park for only 2 yuan. After arriving you will need to pick up a ticket for 60 yuan at the ticket office. The park is open from 8:00 to 5:30.
You can read more about the Cherry Blossom Park here!
A Sea of Colors
Wuhan East Lake Cherry Blossom Park offers so much more than just a romantic setting to stroll through delicate pink petals as they slowly float down to the ground. Green fields, yellow rape flowers, as well as the world famous sakura trees all come together to create an array of colors that make this floral enclave all the more special.
What will truly make you fall in love and become dead set on visiting the Cherry Blossom Park is the postcard-esque scene of the puffy cotton candy like trees with a pagoda peaking its head out from above the branches. While this pagoda lacks any historical or even religious significance, it does help to create that illusion that you are walking through a romanticized version of China which can only be found in art or children’s books.
Looking for a tower with more historical significance? Check out Yellow Crane Tower here!
Striking a Pose
While we all love to get a great shot of ourselves in some of the world’s most beautiful places, the Chinese may have us all beat for making the “selfie” an art form. From outstretched arms and cutesy poses to jumping in the air, many bystanders may be left cringing at the site of many of the group photos which takes place in China’s tourist hotspots. As nauseating it may be, one can not help but feel a tad bit hypocritical as we snap our own shots to the side after sneering at the lines of other tourists.
As important as it is to keep an open mind and be patient, there have been issues in recent years where tourists will purposely shake the branches to create a rainfall of pink petals. These sakura trees only bloom once a year for roughly one to two weeks. I strong breeze is already more than enough to cut the cherry blossom festival short, stripping the trees bare. Shaking the trees to add that extra effect to your photo does not justify ruining the holiday for the heaps of other people who come from around the world to enjoy the flowers in full bloom.
In an effort to deter people from resorting to such brute tactics to create this “rainfall” effect, several filter apps have been introduced. It is yet to be seen, however, if people will finally climb out of the trees and rely on computer-generated petals to get that one shot which is sure to elevate them into online fame.
You can read more about tourists being shamed for destroying sakura trees here!
Cherry Blossoms in Wuhan
The two places to see the cherry blossoms in Wuhan is at Wuhan University and at the East Lake Cherry Blossom Park. If you came to Wuhan specifically to see the sakura trees in bloom, the East Lake Park is by far your best bet to truly enjoy the flowers without much of the hassle which you would find at the university. While Wuhan University is beautiful a destination on its own, the two weeks that make up the Cherry Blossom Festival turns the campus into a madhouse.
Outside of all the buzz which circulates around the yearly cherry blossoms, Wuhan is a city that offers a whole lot more than what meets the eye. After spending a day taking in the sakura trees be sure to venture off down the dark winding alleyways of Wuhan to see the city truly come into full bloom!
Looking for something cultural with fewer people? Check out Hunaghualao!
