TAUNGGYI- As Cherry trees are blossoming in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, visitors and locals alike have crowded there. Apart from normal visitors, some are using them as opportunities to shoot pre-wedding videos and more.

Cheery flowers blossom only once a year. In Myanmar, the flowers usually bloom in late winter. Taunggyi is surrounded by high mountains and geographically situated 4.712 feet above sea level and has a moderate climate.

Visitors had crowded along the street of Buddhist University in Payaphyu Ward, Taunggyi aiming to try to see the Cherry trees and to take nice photos.

However, the Cherry trees situated on the Shwe Phon Pwint Pagoda don’t blossom because it was blocked with the cement.

In the past, on the way to Shwe Phon Pwint Pagoda, visitors were able to see pines, Cherry and Eucalyptus trees growing along the road.

“In the past, we went around the mountain and warned the visitors not to pluck the Cherry flowers or cut the branches because Cherry trees must be conserved. I think that if a person were to cut them down, he or she must be taken actions against the as per forestry laws. But I couldn’t enforce it because I had no time. Other teams planted signboards warning visitors not to harm the trees,” said Cherry Kyaw from Living Earth Green Network.

The Living Green Network will be carrying out the educative tasks not to destroy the Cherry trees.