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The 16th annual Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival has kicked off in the Tibet Autonomous Region to celebrate the fragrance and vibrancy of spring as well as Chinese Tibetan culture.
Tourists from all over the country flocked to the grand event on Thursday, the start of the peak tourist season in the region.
Nyingchi Prefecture, about 400 kilometers east of the Tibetan capital Lhasa, is also referred to as the "Switzerland of the East" due to its picturesque snow scenery in winter, and as "Jiangnan of Tibet" in spring because of its lush greenery.
Nyingchi has gradually turned into a land where trees and flowers grow in abundance and where spring comes earlier than anywhere else in Tibet.
Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on March 25, 2018.
Peach blossoms are often seen as the messenger of spring. Many people say the best time to visit Nyingchi is when they can explore rosy peach blossoms with snow-capped mountains in the background.
In keeping with an old Tibetan saying that "the beauty of spring hidden in southeast Tibet is embodied in clusters of peach blossoms," the Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival has become one of the most important tourist events for the area since 2002.
A tourist takes picture of the peach blossoms in Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on March 29, 2018.
This year's opening ceremony was held in Gala Village, which is situated in Peach Blossom Valley full of hundreds of wild peach trees and is regarded as the most wonderful viewing point. This village has been chosen many times as the opening venue of the festival.
A tourist takes a picture of peach blossoms in Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on March 29, 2018.
During the ceremony, travelers can take part in a series of festive celebrations which include traditional Tibetan horsemanship and archery, folk sports competitions, a food fair, enchanting Tibetan music and a photography exhibition.
Nyingchi is not the only place worth visiting in Tibet. The region has announced that from February 1, some of its most iconic and popular attractions, including Mount Everest National Nature Reserve and Potala Palace, are free of charge to the public as part of the "Winter Tourism in Tibet" program.
(CGTN)
