SPRING is the season which reminds us that nature is the best artist out there. Blooming flowers on the streets and in parks across the city cheer us up at a time when we bid adieu to winter. Whether you want a perfect Instagram snapshot or just want to feel the spirit of spring, we’ve got you covered. Street trees Bauhinia variegate (宮粉紫荊) and pink trumpet (紫花風鈴木) trees are ubiquitous street trees around the city this spring. Although the breeze during these days is still cold, the bright pink or light purple flowers along many roads breathe life and newness. Bauhinia variegate flowers along Binhe Boulevard, Binhai Boulevard and Nanhai Boulevard, with ravishing bougainvillea (簕杜鵑) dotting on some central green belts, refresh commuters in the morning or soothe the soul after a day of busy work. Residents around the southern riverbanks of Zhongxin River (中心河) in Shekou or Dasha River Ecological Greenway (大沙河生態長廊綠道) or Shenzhen Talent Park (深圳人才公園) in Nanshan District can admire the spectacular pink trumpet flowers which are loved for their dazzling display of blossoms, providing a sensational color show. Cherry blossoms Nanshan A cherry blossom park on Huaying Road (華英路櫻花主題公園) is an Instagrammable place to visit every spring. A little pink train in the park has long been adored by visitors and after admiring the elegant cherry blossoms, one can hike up to Xiaonanshan Mountain (小南山) to view the sea in Shekou and beyond. Metro: Line 2 or 5 to Chiwan Station (赤灣站), Exit C and then take bus B945 to “港灣生活小區” station Yantian There are few places more breathtaking than Xiaosanzhou Reservoir (小三洲水庫) with various species of cherry blossoms. Each spring, thousands travel to Yantian to view the wondrous spectacle of these white or pink flowers blooming en masse. Getting there: Take Metro Line 8 to Haishan Station (海山站), Exit B and then walk southward along Haishan Road to take a shuttle bus named “云海專線” The shuttle bus only runs on weekends and holidays and its operation hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (uphill) and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (downhill). After admiring cherry blossoms, hikers can explore Meishajian Mountain (梅沙尖) to experience a sunset at its 753-meter peak. The mountain was selected by the city’s mountaineering and outdoor sports association as one of the 10 most popular peaks in Shenzhen in 2020. One can use the “深圳十峰” WeChat miniprogram to find a hiking trail. Pingshan Residents in Pingshan District don’t have to travel far to other districts to appreciate cherry blossoms since Julong Mountain Ecological Park (聚龍山生態公園) also has pink and red cherry blossoms. Nearby, citizens can admire the pinkish-purple lily magnolia (木蘭花) in Guangzu Park (光祖公園) . Metro: Line 14 to Kengzi Station (坑梓站), Exit B and then take a taxi Rapeseed flowers Guangming It’s enjoyable to take a breath in fresh air at OCT Farm (歡樂田園) in Guangming District. When the spring breeze blows, rapeseed flowers (油菜花) in the 27-hectare field look like golden waves, stretching as far as the eye can see. With trains running through a nearby flyover from time to time, one can feel the rising energy of spring. When you take a stroll along the path, these small bright yellow flowers give a lot of sense of ease and joy. Metro: Line 6 to Sun Yat-sen University Station (中大站), Exit A Longhua One can find out that the rapeseed flower scenery at Guanlan Printmaking Village (觀瀾版畫村) in Longhua is different from other places because the field is decorated with traditional Hakka architecture, such as diaolou buildings and ancestral halls, forming a picturesque Chinese landscape painting. The village is one of the 10 old Hakka villages in Shenzhen. Metro: Line 4 to Niuhu Station (牛湖站), Exit B Dapeng Dapeng New Area is an amazing destination for coastal trips. On the foot of Paiya Mountain (排牙山), one can snap some beautiful pictures of rapeseed flowers at the BGI Bioverse Base (華大萬物試驗基地) and then stroll to Jiaochangwei (較場尾) beach. Driving to Dapeng is suggested. Flame vine Flame vine flowers (炮仗花) at Xiangmi Park (香蜜公園) in Futian District put on a spectacular show of the fiery color. The stunning orange flowers grow in clusters, along the top of the vine, and attract many passersby to linger in this sea of passionate flowers. Metro: Line 7 to Nonglin Station (農林站), Exit C Chinese roses Labeled as the “Little West Lake” thanks to its picturesque lake and ecological lakeside greenways and passages, Lixin Lake Park (立新湖公園) in Bao’an District provides a refreshing view and a recreational place for locals to exercise. Its 2,000-square-meter Chinese rose (月季) garden also grabs the limelight for visitors this spring. The gorgeous yellow, red, white and pink Chinese roses in over 70 species perfectly match the enchanting lake scenery. Visitors can also enjoy reading books at Jianyue Book Bar (簡閱書吧) while admiring the flowers. Metro: Line 11 to Qiaotou Station (橋頭站), Exit C (Cao Zhen) | 