The plum blossom, the king of China's top ten famous flowers, originated in southern China and has been cultivated for over 3000 years. In the depths of winter, colorful plum blossoms bloom vibrantly amidst the wind and snow, unhindered by severe frost. The plum blossom, a symbol of strength, purity and elegance in traditional Chinese culture, motivates people to brave hardship and forge ahead. Since ancient times, many poets and painters have been drawing inspirations from plum blossoms and created countless immortal works. Plum blossoms are also very popular with the general public and often used as home decoration during the Spring Festival. Nanjing has designated the plum blossom as the city flower and holds the Plum Blossom Festival each year, which attracts thousands of people to Plum Blossom Hill to enjoy the full bloom in the snow irrespective of the severe cold.