A delicate fragrance drifts on the air, and elegant beauty emerges against the winter chill. The wintersweet in Chongming's Yingzhou Park has quietly begun to bloom. Tender yellow blossoms adorn the branches, their subtle scent filling the pathways, adding a touch of lively warmth to the winter garden scenery.

Upon entering Yingzhou Park, you are surrounded by a faint, sweet aroma of wintersweet. Following the scent with your eyes, you'll see clusters of pale yellow flowers dotting the branches like tiny stars—some in full, radiant bloom, others still tender buds. Under the gentle winter sun, the petals appear crystalline and translucent, as if bathed in a soft, natural glow. A light breeze passes, causing the flowering branches to sway gently and releasing waves of the captivating, delicate fragrance.

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) belongs to the genus Chimonanthus in the Calycanthaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub that often grows in clumps. Currently in the park, the wintersweet is primarily located south of Chenhu Lake and below Canghai Pavilion. The main varieties present are the “gouya” (dog-tooth) wintersweet and the “suxin” (Luteus) wintersweet.

Due to the warm winter weather this year, the blooming period for the wintersweet in Yingzhou Park has been delayed and is now at its peak viewing time.

Besides Yingzhou Park, a considerable number of wintersweet plants are also cultivated in locations such as Xincheng Park, Baozhen Citizen Park, and Nanmen Square. They are expected to reach their optimal viewing period around the Spring Festival, when their fragrance will become even richer. Interested residents may wish to take advantage of the holiday, invite friends or family for a stroll in the parks, and savor Chongming's unique winter charm amidst the warm sunshine and the serene aroma of blooming wintersweet.