The Longquan hills rise east of Chengdu where the plain begins to break up, and they have been a fruit-growing district for centuries - peaches, loquats, cherries and oranges on terraced slopes, with the cultivation documented back to the Tang period. The modern district is still largely orchard, and because peaches dominate, the hills turn pale pink every March when the trees flower. It is a seasonal spectacle that Chengdu takes seriously, with a blossom festival and shuttle services into the main valleys.
The blossom season
Peach blossom opens in the Longquan hills roughly from early to late March, depending on the winter and the altitude of the particular slope, with the lower valleys first and the upper terraces a week or two later. The classic views are from the road that climbs the ridge, and from the viewpoints above the main orchard valleys, where the blossom runs in bands up the hillside among the farmhouses. Because the season is short - blossom holds for about two weeks at its peak - the timing shifts year to year and locals watch the forecasts closely.
Around the orchards
The hills are a farming landscape with villages, small temples and tea gardens, and it is easy to walk off the main blossom routes into quieter orchards. Longquan also has a lake and a section of the ancient Shu-Ba road, and several old towns sit in the valleys, including Luodai, the Hakka town, on the western edge of the district. The fruit season follows the blossom: loquats in late spring, peaches and then oranges through the summer and into the winter, and the district's fruit markets are busy through the year.
Practical notes
The Longquan hills are about an hour east of Chengdu by car or metro plus local bus, and during the blossom festival the district runs extra shuttle buses from the metro stations, which is far easier than driving, as parking fills early. Blossom weekends are extremely busy; weekdays are manageable. Bring sun protection, since the orchards are exposed, and expect farm-restaurant food - Sichuan country cooking, chicken, fresh vegetables and pickles. Do not pick blossom or fruit without asking.
