A view of cherry blossoms at the Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle) scenic spot in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to wuxinews.com.cn]
The annual Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Festival, held every March to April when thousands of cherry trees are in full blossom in Yuantouzhu (Turtle Head Isle) scenic spot, had its opening ceremony online on March 19 in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Over 160,000 people watched the live-streaming event, which toured the top destination in China for admirers of the cherry flower and showcased thousands of cherry trees sprouting out of the isle's rolling hills.
Yang Mudan, a medical worker who recently returned from Jiangxia District No 1 People's Hospital in Wuhan, watched the online opening ceremony during her 14-day quarantine.
Yang expressed happiness to be back home and witness the beautiful views online and offered words of encouragement to other medical staff still on the frontlines.
The host of the online opening ceremony makes an interview with a boy who's admiring cherry blossoms in Yuantouzhu Scenic Area of Wuxi on March 19. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Yuantouzhu Scenic Area reopened to the public on Feb 21 as the coronavirus epidemic shows signs of slowing down.
To ensure the safety of visitors, the number of people allowed to enter the park at any given time is limited. Visitors are required to book tickets online and present their ID and green-colored Wuxi Health QR Code before entering.
Though all offline events have been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, visitors can still enjoy beautiful springtime views and admire the delicate white and pink cherry blossoms in Yuantouzhu.
