About 200,000 visitors crowded into the Baili Azalea scenic zone in Guizhou on March 23, marking the start of the first peak tourism season.

The Baili Azalea scenic zone lies in Guizhou's Bijie city and covers an area of 125 square kilometers. It is the biggest natural azalea zone in the world and the only national azalea forest park. It boasts 41 kinds of azaleas.

Among the 200,000 visitors, most came with tourism groups or drove private cars. The total number of visitors exceeded the zone's capacity and induced traffic congestions on some roads, said the management committee of the Baili Azalea scenic zone.

To cope with such problems, the zone has set up guiding billboards and brought in 30 shuttles to take visitors to different parts of the zone.

The annual International Azalea Festival will kick off March 28. It is estimated that another peak period will come at that time. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the azaleas from Monday to Friday and avoid crowding in the main scenery spot of Jinpo and Pudi.