Wintersweets bloom in Baoguo Temple

Wintersweet flowers begin blooming in Baoguo Temple in Ningbo's Jiangbei district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wintersweet flowers have recently begun blooming in Baoguo Temple in Ningbo's Jiangbei district.

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.

In the Baoguo temple, the flowering period for wintersweet blossoms is usually from November to March.

A close look at wintersweet flowers in Baoguo Temple in Ningbo's Jiangbei district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A close look at wintersweet flowers in Baoguo Temple in Ningbo's Jiangbei district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]