WHEN ancient Chinese poets depicted spring, they always thought of peach blossoms, for the color of their tender petals vividly resemble the pinkish shade on the cheeks of a coy young woman. Each March, visitors from around China flock to Nyingchi, Tibet to admire peach blossoms. As usual, this year’s Peach Blossom Cultural Tourism Festival will kick off next week March 23 and last until mid-April, the month-long splendor of the flowers a reminder of the transience of life. Here we present the readers with a guide to four of the top destinations: Bomi, Nyingchi, Milin and Gongbogyamda counties. Bomi County At an altitude of 2,700 to 3,000 meters above sea level, peach trees in Bomi are the earliest bloomers. The blossoms — there is a bounty of them — bloom chronologically in various regions from a lower to a higher sea level. There are places to enjoy the flowers in Bomi throughout the time between the end of March and mid-April. Entering Tibet through national highway 318, visitors first arrive at Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, where tens of thousands of peach trees extend several miles. This was certified by the Guinness World Records as the “l(fā)argest peach blossom valley of China.” If you choose the right time to visit, say, at the end of March, peach blossoms will greet you along the roads wherever you drive. Many self-driving visitors recommend the Bomi Tuyou Zhuangyuan Hotel on national highway 318, a comfortable and convenient choice to spend a night. If you want to explore a bit deeper, you can visit Galang Lake in the northwest of the county. Not far away are the mysterious relics of the Galang Palace, which according to legends was built by the first king of the Galang Dynasty. The ancient pavilions are today hidden in a jungle in the mountains, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery as they let their imagination soar. In Songzong Township, where peach trees will not come into full bloom until April, people can marvel at eye-opening equestrian performances amidst the peach blossoms during a horseracing festival. “Linka” in the Tibetan language means “gardens.” Though not as convenient as in cities, the Songtsam Linka Bomi Hotel in Guxiang Village provides a relaxing stay with breathtaking views of the Parlung Tsangpo River and luscious forests on snow-capped mountains. The highlight of the stay is a visit to a pool by the riverbank, where you can dip in warm water and enjoy viewing the peach blossoms set against the mountains. Nyingchi County For first-time visitors, Nyingchi County perhaps occupies a top spot on their list of destinations for peach blossoms. Though without the rich experiences that can be provided by Bomi, Nyingchi attracts many with the opening ceremony of their annual peach blossom festival. Gala Village, the main venue of the festival, is the most-visited destination in Nyingchi. People can enjoy various performances at the opening ceremony, as well as indulging in desserts, liquor and poems beneath the peach trees. To hide from the crowds, visitors can explore deeper into the Daze Valley and come upon the dreamy view of a wild peach forest in bloom. Milin County The peach blossoms grow on both sides of Yarlung Tsangpo River, where visitors can enjoy the grandeur of Mount Namjagbarwa in the distance. Self-driving visitors can take the provincial highway 306 and head towards the grand canyon, where splendid views abound along the way. A popular destination shared by vloggers is Suosong Village tucked in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, voted by National Geography as one of the best spots to view stars in the night sky in China. Located on the mountain cliff rising hundreds of meters by the river, Suosong Village is where you can take great shots of peach blossoms during the day and enjoy a brilliant starlit sky harbored by the snow mountain at night. A unique way to enjoy the peach blossoms is from above. In the grand canyon, visitors can book a hot balloon trip and rent a pair of binoculars to take in a rich landscape consisting of the snow cap and colorful vegetation on the mountains, as well as the flowing river flanked by blooming peach flowers. Forward 10 kilometers from Suosong Village and at the end of the road, you will come to Dalin Village, the best spot to see Mount Namjagbarwa, located on the hillside opposite the mountain. In front of you are thousands of peach trees on a vast grassland. Gongbogyamda County With peach trees in full bloom in April, Gongbogyamda is where the Nyang River flows out, abundant with historical relics like the Xiuba Ancient Castles. Some 75 kilometers from Bayi Township, the capital of Nyingchi County, Xiuba Village is best known for its ancient castles. Shrouded in a pink cloud of peach blossoms, what was once a battlefield becomes a paradise on Earth. (Li Dan) | 