Grand opening ceremony of "the 16th International Plum Blossom Festival of Nanjing, China in 2011"

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Grand opening ceremony of "the 16th International Plum Blossom Festival of Nanjing, China in 2011"

At 9:30 am of February 25, the opening ceremony of the International Festival of Plum Blossoms in Nanjing, China ( a large-scale national tourist festival sponsored by the Municipal People's Government of Nanjing) was held in a grand way on the Square of the Valley of Plum Blossoms on the southern slope of the Hill of Plum Blossoms in Nanjing, thus ushering in this famous tourist festival in Nanjing in 2011.

Concise and fervent performances at this opening ceremony

At this opening ceremony organized by Mu Genglin (deputy secretary general of the Municipal People's Government of Nanjing), Chen Gang (vice-mayor of the Municipal People's Government of Nanjing) delivered a speech, and Ji Jianye (mayor of the Municipal People's Government of Nanjing) announced the opening of this festival of plum blossoms. Wang Jianhua (vice-chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of Nanjing), Tang Yonglin (vice-head of the Tourist Administration of Jiangsu Province), Tang Jianguo (vice-inspector of the Tourist Administration of Jiangsu Province), Zhu Xianmin (chairman of Chinese Photographers Society), Mr. Jian Qingfu (a famous international photographer), Wei Ke (secretary general of the Municipal People's Government of Nanjing), and Sun Weiqin (deputy secretary general of the Municipal CPC Committee of Nanjing) attended this opening ceremony. Guests present at this opening ceremony included consul generals of such countries as Cuba, Poland and Kazakhstan in Shanghai, relevant personages of such countries or regions as USA, Russia, France, Poland and Australia, some representatives of Taiwan and foreign merchants, representatives of the tourist circle of important tourist generating regions along Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway such as Beijing and Shandong Province, representatives of the tourist circle of various municipalities under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province, heads of relevant departments of Nanjing, and representatives of Chinese and foreign media. Leaders of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City and Chinese Photographers Society awarded gold, silver and bronze prizes to 6 winners of "Zhongshan Cup" International Plum Blossom Photography Competition.

Amid gorgeous fireworks, The Hill of Plum Blossoms Permeated with the Flavor of Spring, a large-scale cultural and artistic performance, was put on the stage of this opening ceremony. In addition, The Dance of Spring was performed in a brisk and fervent way, and such songs and dances as Ode to Plum Blossom and A Karma of Plum Blossom in Nanjing highlighted the vivid cultural theme of plum blossom.

Furthermore, many pop stars offered their wonderful performances: Unforgettable, a song sung by Zhu Hong (a famous pop star), was full of praises toward the picturesque sceneries of Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area; The Water of the Yangtze Surges Eastward, a song sung by Yang Hongji (a famous baritone singer), listened very meaningful because it was closely associated with the historical and cultural connotation of the Tomb of Sun Quan in the Hill of Plum Blossoms; A Love Song of Kangting, sung by Mark Levine (a musician of country music in the USA), stirred up another climax of the atmosphere on the spot by wonderfully blending a traditional Chinese folk song with the rock and roll of the USA.

Wonderful and diversified activities at this festival of plum blossoms

As far as we know, a series of diversified activities will be held on the Hill of Plum Blossoms (as the major venue of this festival) during this festival of plum blossoms lasting from February 25 to March 13. On the lawn of the Hill of Plum Blossoms, the prize-awarded products of Zhongshan Cup International Plum Blossom Photography Competition will be displayed.

In Zhongshan Potted Landscape Garden of Plum Blossoms located in the Valley of Plum Blossoms, more than 1000 pots of potted landscape will assume their respective poses. In such venues as Shouxing Palace of the Ming Tomb, Anxiang Pavilion and Zhongshan Academy, calligraphic works and paintings of plum blossoms of various styles will be exhibited.

In the Museum of the Ming Tomb, The Exhibition of the Pictures of the Geomantic Omen of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty will be held, and a 360 circular-screen movie entitled The Great Ming Tomb will be shown. In the greenhouse of the Red Chamber Artistic and Cultural Garden, tourists can enjoy the sight of more than 3000 pots of gorgeous spring flowers.

In addition, a street of displaying and selling delicious food and a carnival for children s amusement will be set up on the Hill of Plum Blossoms.

In addition, on this weekends (February 26 and 27) , a wonderful performance will be held respectively on the Hill of Plum Blossoms and in the Valley of Plum Blossoms (to be canceled in case of rain) . A song and dance performance of minority nationalities will be put on the grand Stage of the Lawn of the Hill of Plum Blossoms by Qianguo National Song and Dance Troupe of Jilin Province respectively at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm respectively. From 10:00 to 11:00 am, a diabolo performance marked by its exquisite craftsmanship will be held on the Square of the Valley of Plum Blossoms.

The best period for appreciating plum blossoms on the Hill Blossoms has come

What about the blooming of plum blossoms? As introduced by Palace Powder, a chief forecaster of the blooming of plum blossoms on the Hill of Plum Blossoms, the best period for appreciating plum blossoms on the Hill Blossoms has come. The occasional overcast and rainy weather in the early stage of blooming has not only moisturized plum blossoms but also retained their freshness very well.

Such early-flowering varieties as Nanjing Red , Early Jade Butterfly and Southern Palace Powder began to bloom in early February and are now still in full blossom, with the flower-appreciating period of individual plants having been obviously extended. Such medium-flowering varieties as twin-petals hanging on branches , sheet-like palace powder , Su Red and green calyx on plum hill , as the major varieties planted on the Hill of Plum Blossoms, are now still in their full blossom stage.

Most of the plum blossoms on the Hill of Plum Blossoms are those flowering in the medium period. The sequential blossoming of these varieties denotes that the best period for appreciating plum blossoms on the Hill Blossoms has come.

Tips for tourists to appreciate plum blossoms

The transportation for going to appreciate plum blossoms on the Hill of Plum Blossoms is very convenient. You can directly reach this hill through the gate of the Scenic Area of the Ming Tomb or the Valley of Plum Blossoms by such bus routes as 20, 315 and 3 (for tourism). If you take the No.2 Subway Line, you can get off the train at the Station of the Ming Tomb at the Muxuyuan Street, and walk for several minutes on the Plank Road for Pedestrians on the Mausoleum Road, before entering the Scenic Area of the Valley of Plum Blossoms.

In addition, tourists who get there by driving their own cars can park their cars according to the following routes: cars from the direction of Weiqiao can be parked on the Parking Lot of the Ming Tomb (former Parking Lot of the Valley of Plum Blossoms) or the Parking Lot of Underwater World; cars from the direction of Taiping Gate can be parked nearby on the Parking Lot of Shizhuzi; cars from the direction of Eastern Mausoleum Road, Dazha Gate and Bo ai Road can be parked on the Parking Lot of the Dr.

Sun Yat-sen s Mausoleum (former Donggou Parking Lot).

According to citizens habit of appreciating plum blossoms, the price of the admission ticket of the Scenic Area of the Ming Tomb has been preferentially adjusted from 70 yuan to 50 yuan per person per time in the period of the Festival of Plum Blossoms (from February 25, 2011 to March 13, 2011). Retired cadres, soldiers in active service, disabled people, elderly people of over 70 years old and children with a height of no more than 1.2 meters, can enter this scenic area free of charge. Full-time students, elderly people of 60 to 69 years old, and children with a height of 1.2 to 1.5 meters (incl.) can enjoy the preference of half-price on the basis of the ticket price of 70 yuan per person per time (35 yuan per person per time).