Nineteenth Lilac Cultural Festival Kicks Off at Badaling Forest Park with Full Bloom of Manchurian Lilacs

According to local official release, the nineteenth Lilac Cultural Festival officially opens at Badaling Forest Park on 3 June and will run until 20 June. Manchurian lilacs within the scenic area have entered their initial flowering stage, home to North China’s largest natural Manchurian lilac colony.

Manchurian lilacs represent the northernmost distributed species within the Syringa genus and grow far taller than other lilac varieties. The plant bears delicate petals and releases a rich, lingering fragrance. More than 100,000 natural Manchurian lilac specimens form the expansive colony exclusively located in Badaling.

Centred on the theme “Forest Culture · Ecological Wellness”, this year’s cultural festival leverages the forest’s unique natural resources to roll out two distinctive experience segments. The nature education courses include plant identification, ecological observation and natural handicraft sessions, tailor-made for parent-child study tour groups. The forest wellness programme arranges woodland walks and guided meditation sessions, allowing visitors to ease mental and physical fatigue amid air rich in negative oxygen ions.

Supporting facilities across the park have been upgraded to match the festival schedule. Seating zones are tucked away among blooming flowers and thick foliage for visitors to pause and rest. A premium coffee service area has also been put in place, enabling travellers to sip drinks surrounded by blossoms and shade and elevate their flower-viewing experience.

The natural secondary forest of Manchurian lilacs here features aged trees and dense distribution. When in full bloom, clusters of white blossoms stretch like floating snow clouds and give off a crisp long-lasting aroma, carrying remarkable ecological and ornamental value.

Three customised fragrance-viewing routes are published to help visitors arrange their itineraries efficiently.

The casual leisure route stretches roughly two kilometres from the ticket office to Tiankeng Car Park along flat terrain, accessible to visitors of all age groups.

The family-friendly fun route covers one kilometre from Xinghuagou Trail to Wanglong Pavilion, packed with rustic natural charm.

The in-depth sightseeing route spans 2.5 kilometres along the Xiangyue Forest Path, ideal for hiking enthusiasts hoping to overlook the sea of flowers from elevated viewpoints. This route leads straight to the scenic exit, yet visitors who exit this way will need to take Provincial Highway 216 back to the car park where heavy traffic often occurs; retracing the original path is therefore recommended.