Wintersweet is in full blossom at Shanghai's Century Park, which is hosting a wintersweet-themed garden party from Jan 20 to March 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shanghai's Century Park is hosting a wintersweet-themed party from Jan 20 to March 20, the period of time over which the park's 4,000 wintersweet trees start to blossom.

Wintersweet, a native Chinese flowering plant, along with pine and bamboo are often referred to in China as the "three friends of winter". The name suggests the ability of these plants to endure bitter winters and blossom to beauty.

The park is offering a variety of activities during the two-month event and will host a wintersweet exhibition, a wintersweet flower arrangement exhibition, a photography competition, a rooster-themed ceramic sculpture exhibition and others.

In addition to wintersweet trees, the Junyu Garden of the park contains an estimated 500 wintersweet bonsais that will also provide joy and solace to the visitors.