CLOUDS of peachy, pink, white, and red cherry blossoms billow in the breeze in Gucun Park where the annual Cherry Blossom Festival is underway.

It’s bigger and better than ever and the biggest explosion of pink is expected late this month.

The Baoshan District festivities, including a dating party on March 29, run through April 15.

Shanghai’s largest suburban forest park, Gucun Park is divided into four areas for cherry blossom viewing: the Forest Walking Park, the Children’s Forest Carnival Park and two Countryside Forest Parks.

The park has more than 50 varieties of cherry, including rosebud cherries, chrysanthemum cherries, oshima cherries and weeping higan cherries.

The Children’s Forest Carnival Park, covering 25,000 square meters, contains magnolia, apple and many other trees — their blossoms reflected in a lake. The Forest Walking Park is a must-visit, with its winding wooden pathway and 28 varieties of blooming trees, says Zhang Zhong, in charge of park management of ecological projects in Baoshan.

In addition to sakura, visitors can also enjoy forest areas, elegant architecture, a children’s playground and barbecue area.

The park contains a football pitch as well as tennis and basketball courts. Bicycles can be rented.

The park will provide information about the cherry blossom peak and activities through WeChat and Weibo.

Last weekend, 110,505 visitors appreciated the cherry blossoms. Around 2,000 parking places have been added this year to the original 3,000, Zhang says.

But during peak blossom time, parking may still be a problem.

Visitors are advised to take Metro Line 7 to Gucun Park Station.

More than 30 ticket windows ensure visitors wait no longer than 10 minutes. Admission is 20 yuan (US$3.22).

A nearby street offers snacks such as steamed dumplings and fried noodles.

Activities

The park will hold six events during the festival, including an art exhibition for the lunar Year of the Horse, a photography exhibition, and on March 29 a group dating event when thousands of singles will look for new friends and that special someone under the cherry blossoms.

Visitors holding festival tickets get discounts on admission to other Baoshan attractions, including the folk arts museum and Wendao Collection House.

Cherry Blossom Fest

Date: Through April 15

Address: 4788 Hutai Rd

Admission: 20 yuan

Other Attractions

• Folk Arts Museum

A stone’s throw from Gucun Park is the International Folk Arts Exposition, described as China’s biggest museum of intangible cultural heritage from around the world.

It showcases artifacts and folk culture ranging from Chinese traditional lanterns to exotic pottery.

The architecture itself is inspired by a decorative Chinese knot, a symbol of good fortune.

Address: 1 Youyi Rd

Admission: 30 yuan

• Wendao Collection House

This complex of houses features typical Huizhou architecture from east China’s Anhui Province, including pavilions, arches and stone engravings.

Address: 2398 Shitai Rd

Admission: 80 yuan

• Luodian North European New Town

This site is quickly emerging as a popular shopping and leisure area with a lake and professional golf course. The architecture is north European.

• Shanghai Museum of Glass

An old glass factory workshop was converted by a French architect into a glass museum and the old industrial area can be appreciated.

It showcases glass art and artifacts from ancient to contemporary to avant garde.

Visitors can watch artisans shape and blow molten glass into various shapes.

Address: 685 Changjiang Rd W.

Admission: 20 yuan

• Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park

The Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland Forest Park includes Yangtze River mudflats and marshes in an ecological area. It also contains forests and man-made gardens. A wooden path winds through the park and visitors can watch birds flying among the reeds.

Address: 206 Tanghou Rd

Admission: 10 yuan