Winter's hush is broken by the first breath of plum blossom fragrance. At Chenshan Botanical Garden and Shanghai Blooming Garden, the season's earliest blooms have quietly emerged, lending soft color to the winter landscape. Across the city, plum trees in Shanghai's parks will soon come into bloom. Here are some of the best places to enjoy the blossoms.

Chenshan Botanical Garden

Early-blooming plum varieties have started to open near the west side of Gate 1. After passing the crabapple area, visitors will find three connected viewing zones: plum garden, plum slope, and lakeside plum zone.

The garden features 11 main varieties, including pink, vermilion, green-calyx, and white-petaled plums. Peak bloom is expected in mid-to-late February.

Where: No 3888 Chenhua Highway, Songjiang district

Ticket price: 60 yuan ($8.61)

Shanghai Blooming Garden

The Jiang Mei variety has begun to bloom in the garden's plum area, signaling the start of the season. Up close, petals still carry the morning's dew, making the entire grove glisten with life.

More than 30,000 plum trees spanning over 60 varieties grow here. Peak bloom is expected from mid-to-late February.

Where: No 6060 Group 6, Xiujing village, Zhujing town, Jinshan district

Ticket price: 30 yuan

Haiwan National Forest Park

Home to one of the largest plum gardens in East China, this park covers about 133 hectares with more than 40,000 plum trees across 126 varieties. Blooming is expected from early February through mid-March.

Where: No 1677 Suitanghe Road, Haiwan town, Fengxian district

Ticket price: 60 yuan

Century Park

The park's plum garden spans 100,000 square meters and includes more than 3,000 trees across 30 varieties. Blending Chinese and Western design elements, it features highlights such as a plum-themed pathway and a striking sea of red blossoms.

Where: No 1001 Jinxiu Road, Pudong New Area

Admission: Free

Gucun Park

Plum trees are concentrated near Mengxiong Bridge by Gate 1, as well as around the forest leisure area, bird garden, and barbecue zone. Varieties include red, pink, white, and green-calyx plums.

Where: No 4788 Hutai Road, Baoshan district

Ticket price: 20 yuan

Xinzhuang Plum Flower Park

This park grows around 1,000 plum trees across more than 30 varieties. A particular highlight is the rare white Longyoumei. When in full bloom, the park becomes a snow-like floral expanse — an ideal local getaway in early spring.

Where: No 688 Hongxin Road, Minhang district

Admission: Free

Jing'an Sculpture Park

Nearly 200 plum trees representing around 100 varieties fill the park with subtle fragrance. Pale pink and white blossoms interplay with winding bridges, reflective ponds, and striking sculptures, creating poetic scenes that blend Eastern and Western aesthetics.

Where: No 128 Shimen Road Number two, Jing'an district

Admission: Free

Guyi Garden

A must-see for plum viewing in a traditional garden setting, this garden features more than 10 varieties — including red, green-calyx, pink, white, and vermilion — blooming in succession among historic pavilions, bridges, and courtyards, forming picture-perfect scenes.

Where: No 218 Huyi Road, Jiading district

Ticket price: 12 yuan

 

Sources: WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism at "shanghaitourism", parks and gardens mentioned above