Beijing park exhibits pungent 'luosifen'-scented cherry blossom

A newly exhibited cherry blossom with an unusual fragrance has drawn crowds to Beijing's Yuyuantan Park, Beijing News reported on Tuesday.

Nicknamed the Luosifen cherry blossom for its scent resembling the popular Chinese noodle dish known for its pungent aroma, the variety made its debut at the park's cherry blossom exhibit on Tuesday, coinciding with the date of Little New Year in northern China.

The exhibit offers visitors an early glimpse of spring, with pink blossoms displayed indoors amid red lanterns, rockeries, and flowing water. This marks the third consecutive year that Yuyuantan Park has hosted an indoor cherry blossom exhibit.

This year's show features a newly added greenhouse, where two potted Luosifen cherry trees with single-petaled white flowers are on display. The flowers emit a strong and familiar fragrance that has prompted many visitors to stop and investigate.

"The aroma is similar to that of luosifen and quite striking," said Zhao Shuang, a senior engineer at the park in the report.

The variety was introduced from the Zhejiang Academy of Forestry Sciences and originated from a natural mutation of cherry discovered in the wild in Hubei's Enshi city in 2014. Its natural flowering period begins in March, with blossoms appearing before the leaves and in large numbers.

While the dish is often associated with a pungent smell, Zhao said the cherry blossom is classified as a fragrant variety. Most cherry blossoms are scentless or only faintly fragrant, making this a rare example of a strongly scented type that challenges common perceptions, she added.

The trees are currently housed in the greenhouse to limit the spread of the aroma and to maintain appropriate humidity levels. Additional lighting has been installed, as the plants require at least six hours of light per day.

Zhao said the variety remains in a trial cultivation stage, and outdoor planting may be attempted later this year after further observation and preparation.