Hangzhou plum blossom festival begins

Performers wearing traditional Chinese dresses admire plum blossoms in the Chaoshan Scenic Area in Linping district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan 21. [Photo/ori.hangzhou.com.cn]

The 14th Hangzhou Chaoshan Plum Blossom Festival was held in the Chaoshan Scenic Area in Linping district, Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on Jan 21.

Chaoshan Mountain has more than 50 varieties of plum blossom spread along more than 10 kilometers of roads.

Performers present a traditional Chinese dance at the opening ceremony of the 14th Hangzhou Chaoshan Plum Blossom Festival in the Chaoshan Scenic Area in Linping district, Hangzhou on Jan 21. [Photo/ori.hangzhou.com.cn]

The Song Dynasty (960-1279) was a critical period in the development of China's plum culture and saw the creation of many works of art featuring the plum.

Hangzhou was the imperial capital of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279) and this is why this year's festival is themed around the Song Dynasty and the plum blossom, said a representative at the opening ceremony of the event.

This year's plum blossom festival will last from Jan 21 through March 8.