Wuhan did not see snowfall this year but the freezing drafty winter finally gave way for an early glimpse of cherry blossoms. The pink and white petal shower or the “cherry fall” rolled out a floral carpet for the visitors in the cherry square. With every gust of blowing wind, the petals fell to the ground and all the crossroads lead to these luxuriant cherry trees. The air is filled with inexplicable excitement.
The visitors are met with waves of euphoria as they set foot on the campus premises. They hold hand-drawn maps that showed all the contours of Luojia and the winding roads of the skirted the hill. Sakura or cherry blossom season is of paramount significance to WHU (even KFC has its own cherry blossom meal pack!)
The trees are in full bloom as if it was unaware of the impending obsolescence when the flower fall off only to be replaced by green leaves. The whole wilderness of Luojia Hill is illuminated with several shades of green as the sunlight tries to penetrate the denser verdant woodlands; however, beauty is short-lived—sadly it does not stay forever, alas this is the primal rule of nature. Couples flock to this campus to cherish their time with each other under the green canopies at the foothill of Luojia Mountains. The greenery has always been preserved in Luojia Hill.
The sakura blossom has plucked their heartstrings, inspiring boundless love in these carefree youngsters. They are oblivious to the hustle and bustle, and the noise of the crowds doesn’t bother them at all, as if this dissonance has magically been converted into a melodious piano sonata before reaching their ears. Sakura is the ideal fairytale matchmaker for many couples: it spurs everyone to express their pent-up emotions. Lovers under the blessing of the sakura has thereby relegated the conventional pair of lovers.
Fountain in the early morning
Grandmas and grandpas may not have such affectionate memories of past cherry blossoms but they can still feel the love and warmth of the cherry flowers that have stayed with them for several decades. The casually dressed visitors with chick-hairpins and floral tiaras could be clearly distinguished from our spruce students. After late-night study sessions, the freewheeling students take a stroll down the cherry boulevard in the starry night, sniffing the fresh aroma of the cherry flowers. The seniors are nostalgic; this is the last cherry blossom for them and it’s only a matter of time before they graduate and depart. So they try to gather as many blissful memories as possible in this place they have grown to love. They even clip the last of the cherry petals in between the pages of their notebooks.
How could anybody not fall in love at the sight of this pristine beauty of sakura spreading perennial joy? Lying in the green grass in the yards during the break and engaging in a laid-back conversation shows that our ability to have a heart-to-heart talk has not been obliterated by technology, and also revitalizes the spirit of the students whose excitement starts to creep in. It’s one of the proudest moments for WHUers to reflect on the ethos, history, and identity of this university.
Kiosks selling cherry blossom souvenirs
The monochrome pink petals try to reach the eaves of the administrative building at the cherry square. The lawns are well-pruned; the leaves are dotted with different colors; the students are strumming guitars and watching the flying kites and floating clouds. It is such a feel-good experience that all our imperfections doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
The cherry blossoms had been carefully tended throughout the year and we received this timely and marvelous gift of cherry blossom this year too (to our surprise, a bit ahead of time). But this year, a twinge of disappointment hit despite our yearning for about a year. Our sakura blossom experience was a slight letdown in the incessant drizzle. The branches were stunted and twisted by the wind, and the whole campus was awash. But when the sky cleared up, the previously muzzy outlines of landscapes soon became breathtakingly beautiful.
The Cherry Castle and Old Museum recently completed renovation with a reinforced concrete frame and composite steel truss. The multi-layer ladder, the patio courtyard, the decorous granite-color veneer of the Cherry Castle, the ornate columns at the entrances, the lacquered windows and the Roman vaults embodies the cultural trend and the spirit of the university. The cherry top overlooking the cherry trees has the most eye-catching panoramic view of this floral grandeur. The historical inscription might be as hard to comprehend as deciphering hieroglyph but they are the fountainhead of historical discourses.
History buffs like me idealize, romanticize and poeticize history in the posture of the detached observer. People say that these are vestiges of the war-tormented history and while that might be true it is still an emotional centerpiece for all WHUers. As more and more attention is focused on exploring thoughtful connections to the past, the students are self-aware to pay their respects to the epitaphs of WHU’s forefathers.
We have come to believe that nature has some sort of covenant with history. Several revelations are made with unmasking of artifice in due time. Nature transcends human memories and historical verisimilitude. The landmarks here are the echoes of several ups and downs of history
WHU’s Cherry Castle now and then
Japanese cherry (Cerasusyedoensis，Matsum), silk cherry (Cerasussubhirtella, Miq), Fukushima cherry(Cerasusserrulate, Lindl) are main species of cherry that can be found within the campus. In 1939, the Japanese introduced cherry trees here. In 1972, when the Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations was normalized, the Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kawasaki visited China and presented the Premier Chou En-lai with 1000 mountain cherries. 50 of those trees were transferred 50 of them to Wuhan University by central authorities and were planted in the foothill of Luojia,
This university has witnessed several historical watersheds too. The June 1st Massacre memorial pavilion was built in the memory of 3 students killed during the suppression of the progressive movement at the time of Kuomintang control. The Olympic Playground is also known as the “912 playground”, because Chairman Mao Zedong visited Wuhan University in September 12, 1958.
Hearty thanks to all the volunteers and workforce who have put in arduous efforts to manage such large hordes of exuberant visitors and create a clean and orderly environment. It’s because of you that our cherry blossom days are filled with love and hope. To borrow from Edgar Allan Poe (Annabel Lee) “We loved with a love that was more than love”.
Photo by GuoYutong／Chen Ziyao
Edited by Li Yunzhen, Wu Siying & Hu Sijia
