Azaleas' allure

The botanical wonderland in Shennongjia is about to explode with blooms

Marvelous masses of amazing azaleas make Shennongjia blossom during the ongoing season - in every sense.

The forest in Hubei province hosts over 4,000 species of plants - actually, it takes its name from a quasi-mythological botanist who's said to have dwelled in the area while experimenting with pharmacology and eventually accidentally poisoned himself during his trials. Oh, and he's often depicted as a human with horns.

The only well-preserved subtropical forest ecosystem in the world's middle latitudes became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, making it China's 50th.