Along the flowery path in China

Spring has a reputation for brevity in China. Flowers of various species reserve themselves for a short prime blooming time from late February and early April. So there's no time to spare in planning a flower tour across China.

The best place for peach blossom viewing: Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The best time to go: February to March

Peach blossoms are not the only thing that has made Guilin a popular tourist destination. But if you happen to be in Guilin during this time of year, the peach blossom scenery is something you might not want to miss.

Every year the city holds a peach blossom festival at Dalingshan Peach Blossom Park. The best way to take in the scenery is to take a walk along the 10-mile path in the park bordered by peach trees bearing pink flowers.

The best place for cole flower viewing: Luoping, Yunnan province

The best time to go: February to April

The annual cole flower festival is underway in Luoping, a city with more than four tracts of 10,000 hectares of land each covered by the flowers. With the cole blooms drawing numerous tourists every year, the flowers are beneficial for locals not only for their agricultural worth but also their tourism value.

The best place for magnolia flower viewing: Beijing

The best time to go: March

Magnolias are a messenger of spring in the eyes of Beijing locals. The many temples around the capital are the best places to see magnolia flowers. Their pure white, heavy petals are a symbol of elegance and regality. Emperor Qianlong planted a magnolia tree at the Summer Palace during the Qing Dynasty 200 years ago. The oldest magnolia tree is said to be the 350-year-old one at Dajue Temple in suburban Beijing.