Plum Blossom Quest at Baoshan Temple

Shanghai Flower Viewing | Plum Blossoms | Baoshan Temple The plum blossoms at Baoshan Temple have been creating quite a buzz online. Today, drawn by the allure, I embarked on a plum blossom quest through the misty air. The temple gate, with its ancient charm, featured dark gray tiles and green bricks, and bronze bells hung from the eaves, chiming melodiously in the breeze. Passing through the main hall, I arrived at the rear courtyard. The imagined plum grove was nowhere to be seen; only a single pot of 'Gongfen' plum sat beneath the corridor. Its sparse branches bore a few scattered blossoms, resembling listless court ladies without makeup. Crouching down for a closer look, I found the petals delicate, yet somewhat thin, lacking a certain grandeur. Disappointed, I turned a corner through a moon gate and entered the temple garden. There, two old plum trees stood prominently. One, a red plum, was in full bloom, its robust branches laden with dense clusters of blossoms, like a blazing fire. Most enchanting was a single branch of white plum that slanted out from the midst of the red, its elegant purity creating a delightful contrast. The branches stretched outwards, almost covering half the sky, exuding a magnificent aura. I raised my phone, hoping to capture this breathtaking scene. Alas, my limited photography skills failed to do it justice. The yellow walls and houses were too distant to serve as a backdrop, and the 'Gongfen' style streetlamps, backlit by the sun, appeared only as blurred silhouettes in the lens. I could only lower my phone and stand quietly beneath the trees. Ah, this beautiful scene could only be preserved in the album of my memories.