As plum blossoms come into bloom in cold winter to greet frost and snow, they have been regarded as the symbols of elegance, firmness and persistence. Hence since ancient times, a large number of poems on plum blossoms have been written, and many plum blossom paintings have been created, forming plum blossom culture peculiar to China. Nanjing has a long history of growing plum trees, and it has been a long-standing custom for locals to appreciate plum blossoms in cold winter. The Plum Blossom Mountain in Zhongshan Scenic Area enjoys a reputation of having t e most beautiful plum blossoms in Nanjing , and is one of the four major plum blossom centers in China. Now visitors can appreciate plum blossoms by Pearl Spring, Fujiabian and Ancient Forest Park. In early 1996, Nanjing held the Plum Blossom Festival for the first time, when citizens and tourists appreciated plum blossoms, and experts and scholars discussed plum culture. In 1997, it was formally named the China Nanjing International Plum Blossom Festival.