RHODODENDRON moulmainense, a species of azalea, is expected to be in full bloom on Wutong Mountain this weekend.

The Ninth Rhododendron Moulmainense Festival and the Second Wutong Mountain Music Festival are now under way.

The flower festival kicked off yesterday and will continue through March 31.

The anticipated date of full bloom has been slightly delayed due to several rounds of cold fronts, but forecasters anticipate that this year’s display will be particularly stunning. If hiking on Wutong Mountain, visitors will encounter a breathtaking carpet of more than 50,000 blooming Rhododendron moulmainense stretching over more than 40 hectares.

The wild Rhododendron moulmainense grows slowly, according to Wutong Mountain Management Center staffer Zhang Kaiwen. It typically takes a decade for the main stem of these evergreen shrubs to grow to the width of a thumb and over a century to reach the width of a bowl.

Organizers have arranged three flower viewing routes and established four scenic locations, each promising to treat visitors to a beautiful panorama of the blooms.

Route A, starting from the North Gate and passing through Phoenix Terrace and Azalea Valley, offers an easy ascent and is suitable for families with elderly members and children.

Route B begins at Liantang Metro Station and leads travelers up the mountain via Dengyu Trail. Visitors can also choose Route C to ascend Wutong Mountain via the Lingyun Trail. (Chen Siqi)