Canada - In early April, the entire Vancouver metropolitan area lights up like a painting thanks to blooming flowers, the most brilliant and anticipated of which are cherry blossoms.
Vancouver is a city on the West Coast, with the mildest and warmest climate in Canada. The first cherry blossom trees here were planted about 100 years ago, a gift of friendship from the mayors of Kobe and Yokohama (Japan), in gratitude to Japanese Canadian veterans of World War I.
Stanley Park, Vancouver's oldest and largest park, is where the first cherry trees took root, opening the journey to spread the beauty of this flower throughout the city.
In this photo, a family picnics under the shade of an ancient cherry tree in Stanley Park, early April.
Decades old cherry trees in Shakespeare Garden, Stanley Park.
Witnessing the beauty and harmony of cherry blossoms with the soil of Vancouver, the flower continued to be planted in Stanley Park through many periods in the 1930s - 1950s. The mark of time has left its mark on the ancient cherry trees in this park.
When visiting Stanley Park, visitors should not miss the Stanley Park Pavilion, one of the oldest architectural works in Vancouver. The early 20th century building with bold British architecture is now used as a cafe, restaurant and event venue. However, Stanley Park Pavilion still retains its old soul, where visitors can enjoy cuisine and experience Vancouver in the past.
Another cherry blossom viewing spot in Vancouver that is also associated with the Canada-Japan friendship is Queen Elizabeth Park. Located at 125 m above sea level, this park is the highest point, offering panoramic views of the city of Vancouver.
In the photo, visitors take photos under the canopy of five nearly 70-year-old cherry trees in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the park area was a primeval forest. In the early 20th century, it was a site for basalt quarrying, which was used to build the city's roads. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (mother of Queen Elizabeth II) of the United Kingdom visited and opened the park, naming it after her.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom at Queen Elizabeth Park
Unlike the old cherry blossoms in Stanley Park, the cherry blossoms at Queen Elizabeth Park are blooming strongly with the vitality of spring. This year, the beautiful sunny weather in early April has made the cherry blossoms even more colorful.
The University of British Columbia (UBC) campus is also a must-see cherry blossom viewing spot in Vancouver. UBC is a top choice in Canada for students looking for a prestigious academic environment and beautiful nature. UBC is ranked second among prestigious universities in Canada, after the University of Toronto, but is considered to have the most beautiful campus landscape in the country.
The UBC campus currently has 10 beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots, distributed throughout the school, creating a poetic spring scene. In the photo are cherry blossoms blooming at the Faculty of Education building.
A Vietnamese woman takes a photo in an ao dai among the peach blossoms on Lower Mall Road, UBC.
Every blooming season, Vancouver becomes an attractive destination with nearly 45,000 trees of about 50 varieties, creating picturesque scenes. In addition to parks, peach blossoms are also planted along streets and in residential areas. The tree canopy blooms into a soft canopy of flowers, covering a corner of the sky in pink, making pedestrians feel like they are lost in a dreamland.
Cherry blossoms bloom along Graveley Road, east Vancouver.
Vietnamese women in ao dai, conical hats and Vancouver cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossom festivals are held in the spring with many activities such as picnicking under the blossoms, performing arts, poetry, and street food. The image of cherry blossoms has become an indispensable part of Vancouver's spring identity.