5 places to see cherry blossoms this spring in Shanghai

Photograph: Ra Orantes via Unsplash

Spring is in the air and the trees of Shanghai’s parks and gardens are set to turn pink – it’s blossom season. That’s right, your Moments and Instagram feeds are about to be filled with pictures of trees temporarily tickled pink. While admittedly not as impressive as sakura season in Japan, Shanghai’s blossoms are coming into bloom (expect them in all their glory from now through the last weeks of April) and are definitely worth seeing. Here's five places to check out.

Gucun Park

Covering a stunning 800,000sqm plot of land in Gucun Park, 12,000 pink cherry blossom trees of 90 different species are expected to come into full bloom by the end of March at this year’s Shanghai Sakura Festival. Running through mid-April, the fest also has a load of different attractions near the entrances to the park. 

📍4788 Hutai Lu, near Jingpohu Lu. 20RMB.

Jingan Sculpture Park

Upon entering the park at Exit 1, witness a lovely sea of pink, tunneling through a 100-metre-long lane of cherry blossom trees. Best of all – Jingan Sculpture Park is open to the public completely free of charge. 

📍128 Shimen Er Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Free.

Lu Xun Park

Formerly known as Hongkou Park, Lu Xun Park is one of the city’s oldest and favourite public gardens. A perfect day out for all ages, the park houses not only a memorial for Lu Xun, the leading figure of modern Chinese literature, but also a section packed with fair rides. Also popular for its dance and live music performances, you now have one more reason to visit. 

📍2288 Sichuan Bei Lu, near Dong Jiangwan Lu. Free.

Shanghai Botanical Gardens

The International Flower Exhibition will kick off at the Shanghai Botanical Garden starting Thursday 28 March and will run through May 5. The exhibition will be showing off magnolia, tulips, daffodils, ranunculus and many other seasonal blooms, however, the Kawazu sakura trees along the riverside will still be taking the limelight. 

📍1111 Longwu Lu, near Baise Lu. 15RMB.

Century Park

This fantastic park in Pudong is one of the best green spots in the city all year round, but come blossom season it's even more beautiful with a dedicated plum tree garden featuring 3,000 trees in 30 varieties, plus lovely pink cherry blossoms slightly later in March.

📍1001 Jinxiu Lu, near Fangdian Lu, Pudong. 10RMB.

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