On May 11, in the early summer, the weather was fine with clear sky and pleasant breeze. Reporters of Huaihua Daily ascended Liangshan Mountain, the highest peak in the southern suburb of Huaihua city, to enjoy the highland azaleas.
Liangshan Mountain is located in the Huangyan Scenic Area, a provincial forest park. It stands at an altitude of 1,174 meters, close to the urban area yet far from the hustle and bustle of the city, being truly a natural oxygen bar.
Rhododendrons are in full bloom on the ridge of Liangshan Mountain. (Photo by Luo Yiyao/Huaihua Daily)
The minute the reporters reached the hillside, they were welcomed by the fragrance of flowers and trees, emitting a refreshing scent. As they ascended the steps and approached the vicinity of the main peak, the view suddenly opened up. Over 500 mu (around 34 acres) of azalea in full bloom stretched along the ridge, resembling a sky of red clouds descending upon the green mountains, gorgeous, splendid, and spectacular. The flowers bloomed in clusters, some fiery red like fire, others pink like the dawn, cascading down the hillsides in layers. They intertwined with the tall trees and emerald mountains, painting an exquisite highland ecological floral landscape.
Along the trail, the flowery branches gently waved on both sides, releasing a faint, lingering fragrance. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows; dewdrops on the petals sparkled brilliantly. A breeze blew, sending petals fluttering in a riot of colors, filling the scene with poetic charm. Tourists came in an endless stream to enjoy the amazing sights: some with their family and others with their friends, everyone pausing to take photos to capture the magnificent blooming of rhododendrons on the peak of Liangshan Mountain. “When we saw in Tiktok video rhododendrons in full bloom on Liangshan Mountain, we photography club members specially arranged to have a trip here.” said tourist Yu Lan joyfully.
Rhododendrons are in full bloom on both sides of the trail. (Photo by Luo Yiyao/Huaihua Daily)
Standing at the summit, you can get a panoramic sight of the Huaihua city, with high-rise buildings surrounded by green mountains and thick forests, presenting a pleasant scenery. The flowers were dancing in the gentle breeze, instantly healing your exhaustion of climbing the mountain. The rhododendrons in Liangshan are natural, showing their vigorous vitality and thus becoming a beautiful ecological landscape in early summer of Huaihua.
According to Zhang Zhongshu, director of Liangshan work area of state-owned Luyang Forest Farm in Huaihua City, the flowering period of azaleas is from mid April to late May. Since the flowers bloomed, the scenic area has received an average of 2000 visitors per day, and on weekends, the number of visitors can reach up to 5000. At present, the growing area of continuous Rhododendron in Liangshan exceeds 34 acres, and the variety has gradually expanded from a single wild Rhododendron to multiple categories such as rhododendron, azalea, and magnolia. Now, it is the best period for enjoying rhododendron.
Rhododendrons are in full bloom. (Photo by Luo Yiyao/Huaihua Daily)
Next, the forestry department of the city will make every effort to build a ten mile azalea corridor. By relying on the cultural and tourism resources of the flowers, they would try to drive employment and income growth for surrounding residents, empower the development of catering and rural cultural tourism while continuously improve the supporting facilities of the scenic area, so as to make it more comfortable and convenient for citizens and tourists to enjoy flowers.
(Translated by Chen Min)