With April’s warm breezes sweeping through, Hangzhou has turned into a floral wonderland. First came the cherry blossoms, tulips, and peonies—and now, the next big name in flowers has stolen the spotlight. The much-anticipated “Fragrant April: Azaleas in Emerald” show recently kicked off as part of the 2026 West Lake Flower Fair at Hangzhou Botanical Garden. To celebrate this, the garden has set up two major photo-ready zones: a natural azalea field and a display of premium potted azaleas. Honestly, every snap looks like a spring blockbuster.

Since opened in 1956, the Botanical Garden has been a hub for introducing, cultivating, and showcasing azaleas. The natural viewing area is mainly around the Maple and Azalea Garden, which dates back to 1958. After renovations and upgrades, it now covers a solid 24 hectares—making it a true hotspot for flower lovers.

The garden is divided into four sections: a viewing area, a premium collection, a variety zone, and a hybrid breeding area. With over 200 azalea types (including cultivars), common favorites like the white-haired azalea, splendid azalea, and mountain azalea are now hitting their peak bloom.

The premium potted azalea display is mostly in the Jade Spring Fish Leap scenic area. On both sides of the fish pond, over 60 potted azaleas are lined up on Chinese-style flower stands at different heights. They are arranged under the principle of “timely blooming, rich color, and full variety,” showing off the azaleas at their finest—treating the flowers, leaves, and plant shapes as living art.

But that’s not all. There are also 34 super cute mini gardening pieces—small but super creative. Thanks to the designers’ magic touch, these tiny garden landscapes have been turned into adorable little “pocket gardens” that’s absolutely delightful.

Here’s something to get a thrill: the Botanical Garden is hosting a forest party from April 17 to 19. Visitors can enjoy a market, forest therapy, new-school folk music, nature-based farming, outdoor sports, and even fun interactions with adorable pets. If this sounds like your kind of spring romance, don’t miss out.