The first bloom of Rhododendron in Xing'an: This year, the flowering season in Zhalantun has arrived a bit earlier

Zhalantun City is located at the southern end of Hulunbuir City, on the southern slope of the Greater Xing'an Mountains, and is the place where the Xing'an Rhododendron blooms the earliest. It blooms half a month earlier than the deeper areas of the Greater Xing'an Mountains and is known as the 'First Bloom of Xing'an Rhododendron'. Every year from mid to late April, the rhododendrons in places like Dujuan Slope and Xiushui begin to bloom, spreading from south to north all the way to Chaihe and Nanmu Oroqen Township. Usually, the peak flowering period arrives during the May Day holiday, attracting tourists from all over the country to admire the blooming rhododendrons. The spring flowers in Zhalantun are full of fragrance and brilliant like the rosy clouds, so beautiful that they take your breath away. Rhododendron, also known as Azalea, is called 'Hongjilaiqige' in Mongolian and 'Jindalae' in Korean, and is the city flower of Hulunbuir City. The Zhalantun Rhododendron is different from those in other areas of the Inner Mongolia Greater Xing'an Mountains, which coexist with birch and larch trees. Here, they bloom wildly and boldly across the hills and fields. This April, the temperature in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia was higher than in previous years, leading to an earlier rhododendron season in Zhalantun. On April 18th, some eager rhododendrons quietly began to bloom, and by the 20th, the Dujuan Slope of Cuiping Mountain was already covered with a continuous spectacle of competing Xing'an Rhododendrons, in brilliant purples and reds, dazzling like the rosy clouds. Occasionally, precious white rhododendrons, pure as jade, were interspersed among them, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland. Coinciding with the weekend, local citizens flocked to enjoy the flowers and the spring outing, taking photographs to preserve the memories.