Wintersweet flowers begin blooming at Yuehu Park in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Wintersweet flowers have recently begun blooming at some places in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province.

The wintersweet, a native Chinese flower, has a strong scent and blooms in late winter or early spring, before new leaves begin growing. It is often referred to in China as one of the "three friends of winter", along with pine and bamboo.

Some good places to admire the flowers in Ningbo are Yuehu Park, Jiufeng Mountain, Zhongshan Park, and Baoguo Temple.

A  staff member at the Wang'ao scenic spot of Jiufeng Mountain said that the flowering period is usually from December to February, and they will keep growing no matter how harsh the weather.

In addition, plum flowers in Dong'ao village, Xikou town, Fenghua district began blooming at least 20 days earlier than in previous years.                                           

Wintersweet flowers begin blooming on Jiufeng Mountain in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Plum flowers bloom on Jiufeng Mountain in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]