Shenzhen in Bloom: Pink trumpet trees giving riverbanks a splash of color

Editor’s note:

Spring is in full swing, which is great news for flower lovers. From adorable trumpet-shaped flowers to delicate cherry blossoms to undulating yellow rapeseed flower carpets, flowering plants adorn Shenzhen all year around, but more prominently in this season. It’s not difficult to find a small sea of flowers in this city with 1,260 parks, and these colorful buds are even ubiquitous along busy streets amid all their hustle and bustle. This series, “Shenzhen in Bloom,” will give a glimpse of these picturesque places to celebrate abundance as well as beauty in the natural world of Shenzhen.

Alongside the Central River in Nanshan District’s Houhai area are the eye-catching pink trumpet trees that herald the spring with the view of thousands of pink and lavender trumpet-shaped flowers set against the cerulean skies of February. Labeled as Handroanthus impetignosus, this tree species was once not as common in Shenzhen as it is nowadays. These trees, usually in full blossom in January and February, give the landscape a distinctive dash of color, drawing swarms of visitors and prompting media outlets including China Central Television (CCTV) to give exposure to its beauty.

Add: Starting from Anwan First Street to the estuary area of the Central River in Nanshan District (南山区岸湾一街至出海口)

Metro: Line 2 to Wanxia Station (湾厦站), Exit A and then walk for 20 minutes

Blooming pink trumpet trees alongside the Central River in Nanshan District draw many visitors to savor springtime on the riverbanks. Photos by Sun Yuchen