2018 Wuxi Intl Cherry Blossom Week beckons

The much-anticipated Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Week opened in grand style on March 28 at Yuantouzhu, or Turtle Head Isle, in East China's Wuxi, attracting thousands of visitors who all wanted to catch a glimpse of the beautiful cherry blossoms first-hand.

Dubbed one of the three best places in the world to view cherry blossoms, Turtle Head Isle is China's single largest cherry plantation, covering more than 650,000 square meters. Over 30,000 cherry trees of nearly 100 different varieties have been planted in the area.

The 2018 Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Week opens in grand style on March 28 at Turtle Head Isle of Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo/wxrb.com]

The event, which has been held annually since 2014, is designed to promote peace, friendship and continued cooperation between China and Japan. This year's festival also marks the 31st Anniversary of the Sino-Japanese Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest.

The highlights of the festival each year are Turtle Head Isle's over 30,000 cherry trees, which are in their prime from late-March to mid-April. Many of the trees were donated by groups of private citizens and NGOs from Japan, whom have been visiting Wuxi to plant the trees as a gesture of peace and solidarity since 1988.

The event's opening ceremony was held at the scenic spot's Cherry Blossom Valley, with more than 300 distinguished guests from 20 countries and regions in attendance, including officials from the Consulate General of Japan, the United States, Denmark, Ireland, Singapore, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates in Shanghai, representatives from the local government, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries as well as a delegation from Japan.

Japanese tourists take selfies at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Week on March 28 at Turtle Head Isle of Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo/wxrb.com]

Song Jingwu, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, gave a speech at the ceremony, in which he expressed his appreciation of the Japanese delegation's visit and his hope that the friendship between the two nations will prosper.

Kazuyuki Katayama, consul-general of Japan in Shanghai and Sean Stein, the US consul general in Shanghai then addressed the ceremony, telling the audience of their impressions of Wuxi and praised the captivating scenery of Turtle Head Isle, winning cheers and applause from the crowds.

An array of cultural performances was staged during the opening ceremony, including traditional Japanese music, Chinese songs and a Haka dance by the New Zealand cultural delegation.

A series of cultural, tourism and economic activities will also take place during the annual Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Week, which will close on April 2.

Tourists flock to Turtle Head Isle to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Xiao Da/chinadaily.com.cn]