Blossoming cherry trees draw tourists from far and wide to east China city

The three-day Zhongxi Cherry Blossom Cultural Tourism Season kicked off on Friday at Zhongxi Sakura Alley in Pinghu City in east China's Zhejiang Province, with tens of thousands of cherry trees in full bloom making for a stunning backdrop to the event.

"I come here every year to see the cherry blossoms. I feel like the flowers bloom exceptionally well here," said a visitor.

The cherry blossom viewing season at the tourist attraction will continue until mid-April.

As well as cherry blossoms, the scenic area currently abounds with tulips, February orchids, hydrangeas, and pink muhly grass. The area is planted with flowers that will bloom in every season, making it a year-round horticultural attraction.

For this year's blossom season, a fair has been launched at the site with over 100 stalls offering visitors culinary delights, cultural and creative products, and intangible cultural heritage experiences, many of them flower-themed.

"This time, we've introduced some cherry blossom-themed bakery products, such as cherry blossom cookies, biscuits, and mung bean cakes. The items we brought in this morning have been largely sold out, and new suppliers are on the way," said one stall owner.

To promote the integration of culture and tourism, the Pinghu Economic Development Zone established the Lingyingge Cultural and Creative Gallery last year, which is celebrating its first anniversary this year.

The gallery features over 40 cultural and creative souvenirs and more than 100 industrial tourism products, transforming local culture and traditions into tangible products and souvenirs that visitors can take home.

On Saturday, a fashion design center in the economic development zone officially opened its doors, putting its down jackets, luggage and children's strollers on public display for the first time.

On Sunday night, a grand ceremony for the cherry blossom cultural tourism season, including a music awards ceremony and a 700-drone light show, was held, furthering showcasing the charm of Pinghu City.

"By taking advantage of the cherry blossom cultural and tourism season, we aim to offer visitors more than just beautiful scenery -- we want them to take away memorable experiences and products. Our goal is to turn foot traffic into lasting engagement, and transform picturesque landscapes into a thriving cultural economy," said Chen Zehao, deputy director of the Pinghu Economic Development Zone Management Committee.

Blossoming cherry trees draw tourists from far and wide to east China city

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao urged expanded communication channels and continued commercial cooperation between China and the U.S. despite global uncertainties during a meeting with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) on Monday.

During the talks, Wang said that China hopes U.S. companies investing in the country will share issues they encounter while operating in the Chinese market.

"Today, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the next steps for China-U.S. economic and trade relations, as well as the issues, suggestions, and requests you have as companies investing here," he said.

As global supply chains shift and geopolitical tensions persist, the U.S. business community is calling for predictable policies and open channels of communication, according to the business leaders attending the meeting.

"Consistent pragmatic communication between Washington and Beijing remains essential, and it provides businesses in both countries with the clarity and the confidence needed to operate effectively and compete fairly and plan for sustainable growth," said Rajesh Subramaniam, chair of the USCBC and CEO of FedEx Corporation.

"So we don't believe that anyone ever wins trade wars. So, what we consistently advocated for all parties is to avoid escalatory actions. We also think that it's very important to have transparent and readily accessible tariff exemption mechanisms," said Sean Stein, president of the USCBC.

Calling the delegates "old friends," the Chinese commerce minister said China remains confident in the trajectory of China-U.S. economic ties, describing the relationship as "dynamically stable."

China's commerce minister meets U.S. business leaders, urges deeper cooperation