Cao Zhen caozhen0806@126.com This weekend, you can enjoy two flower festivals at Fairy Lake Botanical Garden and its nearby Wutong Mountain. Upon visiting, don’t forget to check out another two hidden gems in the neighborhood. Fairy Lake Botanical Garden 仙湖植物园 The Greater Bay Area Shenzhen Flower Show will display exquisite floral arrangements at its main venue, the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. A total of 1,000 plant species will be introduced to the show. Residents will also be able to admire specially designed gardens created by top horticulturists. The flower show has attracted some 435 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions around the world. Booking is required in advance of your visit. Dates: March 21-29 Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Booking: WeChat account “szbgac” Metro: Line 2 to Xianhu Road Station (仙湖路站), Exit C3 and then walk north for 600 meters Wutong Mountain 梧桐山 Wutong Mountain is hosting the sixth Rhododendron Moulmainense Festival. Rhododendron moulmainense (毛棉杜鹃), or Westland’s rhododendron, is a flowering evergreen shrub native to South China and Southeast Asia. In Shenzhen, its flowering period is from March to April and its fruiting period is from May to June. Recommended spots to enjoy the flowers on the mountain are Rhododendron Valley (杜鹃谷), Wanhuaping (万花屏), Fenghuangtai (凤凰台), Tofu Hilltop (豆腐头) and Good Man Road (好汉路). Entry is free. Recommended trails for climbing Wutong Mountain: • Dengyun Trail (登云道) Metro: Line 2 or 8 to Liantang Station (莲塘站), Exit A and then walk north for 500 meters • Lingyun Trail (凌云道) Metro: Line 8 to Wutong Mountain South Station (梧桐山南站), Exit D and then walk north for 1 kilometer Bougainvillea flowers can be seen all over Shenzhen but there are two little places where you may be awed by the flowers’ strong vitality. Bougainvillea Garden 簕杜鹃花园 Walking into Alley 6 of Liantang Village, you will see a gorgeous cascade of bougainvilleas on the facade of an eight-story building. The flowers were planted by a resident in 2003 and after 18 years, the fuschia flowers have grown into a famous landscape in Liantang Village. Add: Alley 6, Liantang Village, Luohu District (罗湖区莲塘村六巷) Metro: Line 2 or 8 to Liantang Station (莲塘站), Exit D and then walk south for 400 meters Parking building outside Fairy Lake Botanical Garden 仙湖植物园外停车场 A six-story parking building outside the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden has blooming bougainvillea flowers on each level, which looks like a giant layered purple sweet potato cake. Don’t forget to check it out before you enter the garden. Metro: Line 2 to Xianhu Road Station (仙湖路站), Exit C3 and then walk north for 600 meters | 