Nanhui District's most famous buds finally began to open over the weekend and will burst into full bloom over the next two weeks, according to the organizing committee of Shanghai's annual Peach Blossom Festival.

The tardy arrivals offer at least some relief to the embarrassment organizers encountered when the 15-year-old festival began on March 25 with no flowers in sight.

Unusually low temperatures during the first three months of the year delayed the blossoms, said Liang Ming, vice director of the festival's organizing committee.

But horticultural experts predicted that with steadily rising temperatures all the flowers will be in bloom for about two weeks.

The upcoming weekend, they said, will be an ideal viewing time.

In addition to the Xinchang orchard, flower fans can view the blooms at the Luchao Port peach orchard for 40 yuan; the seaside peach orchard, 36 yuan; the Chengbei folk customs peach orchard, 36 yuan; and the Shanghai Flower Port for 60 yuan, where millions of tulips from the Netherlands are also on display.

The festival concludes on April 18.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)