Springtime for Hitler Zhuzhou 1

Springtime in Zhuzhou is a welcome relief from the winter cold and brings with it many new, bright colors. The flowering of the “trees with pink flowers like they have in Japan,” known to most native English speakers as Cherry blossoms, has been the talk of the town for several weeks. Students began talking about the trees in late February and a few trips to Shi Feng Park, in the outskirts of Zhuzhou, were scheduled and then canceled before the trees actually bloomed.

I was finally able to see the Sakura with a few student a few weeks ago on a rainy Saturday. The students were exceptionally excited to have their photos taken with the trees, as were dozens of other Chinese people. Though perhaps it would have been more beautiful under different weather circumstances, the trees were striking. The photos below are documentation of the experience. <sup>2, 3


1</sup> The title is a reference to the Mel Brooks' musical, The Producers. As you may have guessed, the fifth song in the second act is entitled Springtime for Hitler.
² I think the center picture is really interesting because it highlights what modern day China, especially in Zhuzhou, is really like. No matter where you go or what beauty surrounds you, an air-polluting factory is not far away.
³ The students pictured in the bottom left photo, from left to right, are Crystal, Cindy, Beryl, and Sherey from Junior 1, Class 16.