Officials seek to nip blossom rush in bud
Print Edition
CHERRY blossom fans are being reminded that the flowers are not yet at their peak, after a festival attracted 240,000 visitors over the weekend.
They can stagger their visits as the trees will be in bloom over the next fortnight, said officials.
Police yesterday restricted traffic around Gucun Park in Baoshan District, where the annual Cherry Blossom Festival is being held, while Metro station staff introduced a one-way system.
Just under 100,000 people went to see the sakura on Saturday, while yesterday more than 142,000 were admitted.
But park officials said the blossom has not reached its peak, which is expected in a week or two, meaning visitors have more days to make their trip.
They also recommended that children and the elderly visit at quieter times during the week to view the 12,000 cherry trees of 60 varieties.
“I saw more people than flowers,” visitor Yu Changrong, who was at the park yesterday with her husband and 2-year-old son, told Shanghai Daily.
“Not all the cherry flowers are open yet. But the weather is nice, so I just see it as a family spring outing,” she added.
Yesterday, cars traveling north on Hutai Road had to make a detour to enter from Entrance 3 on Jingpohu Road instead of the main gate on Hutai Road.
And Metro Line 7’s Gucun Park station introduced a one-way system to deal with the large number of passengers.
Officials did not say whether there will be restrictions again next weekend.
To cope with the crowds, more ticket stands were set up at park entrances and plans have been made to open an additional 85-hectare area if numbers at any one time surpass 120,000.
The maximum daily capacity of the park is about 200,000.
Last year, Gucun Park received a record 160,200 visitors on a single day.
The festival runs until April 15. Admission is 20 yuan (US$3.20).
Meanwhile, a show of tulips in Daning Lingshi Park in Zhabei District also became a popular spot over the weekend.
The show was extended until next Sunday due to demand, but many visitors thought yesterday was the last day.
By 11am, the park reported 40,000 visitors. Barriers were set up at entrances and 300 traffic police and other traffic staff drafted in.
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