THE fifth annual Cherry Blossom Festival will be held from 24 to 26 December in Loimwe, Kengtung Township, Shan State (East), according to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Shan State).
The Shan State Government and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will jointly organize the festival at the Cherry Tree Grove near the Satuyahtha Sumingala Pagoda at the Loimwe Mountain Camp to promote tourism in Loimwe, Kengtung Township, Shan State (East), and preserve the area’s cherry trees.
“The cherry blossom festival is held for five days during the cherry blossom season. The first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in January 2022. Some cherry trees in this area were planted during the colonial era, along with hundreds of trees planted by successive generations. As a result, the entire forest is covered in blossoms during the cherry blossom season. Around 500 cherry trees were planted in about 1990, and another 500 were planted between 2022 and 2023, bringing the total number of cherry trees in the Loimwe area to more than 1,000,” said U Htin Aung Naing, Director of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Shan State).
The flower festival will feature traditional dance performances by local ethnic groups, music performances by local ethnic singers, and displays of Shan traditional goods, local wines, food, and MSME products.
Loimwe Mountain Camp is located at 5,542 feet above sea level and is home to many memorable photo spots, including the iconic Loimwe Lake and the Centennial Mansion. It also attracts large numbers of visitors each year during the winter cherry blossom season.
In Myanmar, Chin State and Shan State have the highest concentrations of cherry trees. In the Loimwe region, there are two types of cherry trees – sweet and bitter – that bloom alternately, extending the cherry blossom season to about a month. In Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, cherry blossom festivals are also held, and Japan likewise holds cherry trees in high regard. — ASH/TH
