Shanghai's annual plum blossom festival will start on Tuesday, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at the Gulf Forest Park in Fengxian District as part of the city's festive celebrations. About 40,000 plum trees from 126 species will gradually bloom during the 6th "Oriental Beauty Valley" Shanghai Plum Blossom Festival through March 24. Three sightseeing routes have been designed in the largest plum garden in east China, covering 1.3 square kilometers, for visitors to watch the early and late plum blossoms.