Discover Asia in Bloom: Your Spring Travel Guide
Spring across Asia is not a single event. It is a wave of moments, each unique to the destination. From viewing blossom at their peak, to spending time in nature as it reawakens, to joining local communities as they welcome the season, your stay with us is shaped by place and perfect timing. Here is how spring unfolds across a selection of our Asian destinations.
Landscapes in bloom
For a few weeks each spring, cherry blossoms drape cities and countryside across Asia. Parks, temples and scenic spaces fill with groups of family and friends, who come to picnic, socialise or stroll beneath canopies of pink. The appeal goes beyond the visual – it is the feeling of being part of something local, fleeting and quietly meaningful.
In Japan, a stay at Garrya Nijo Castle or Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto places you close to some of Kyoto's most loved sakura (blossom) spots, which are at their most striking in late-March to early-April. Maruyama Park draws in the crowds for lively hanami (flower-viewing) gatherings and its striking illuminated weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura). If a calmer experience is more your style, the Philosopher's Path in northeastern Kyoto offers a peaceful walk along a cherry tree-lined canal. For a deeper sense of quiet, spend time among the blossoms at bucolic Haradani-en Garden, tucked away in the surrounding hills.
Cherry blossom viewing is not limited to Japan. South Korea’s cherry blossom season is deeply cherished, and it is as beautiful as it is fleeting. From Cassia Sokcho, head to Yeongnangho Lake, where cherry trees frame the water against the snowy peaks of Seoraksan Mountain and blossoms reach their peak from early to mid-April. You can wander the walking paths or do as the locals do and spread out a picnic mat, sharing drinks and conversation as petals drift through the air.
In China, Angsana Hangzhou arranges visits to Xixi National Wetland Park during February's plum blossom festival, so you can experience the season while learning about the community traditions that make this time of year so meaningful. For maximum serenity, a gentle boat ride through the park's waterways allows you to take in the pink and white blooms at an unhurried pace.
Springtime festivals
Spring is a time when communities come together to mark new beginnings. Festivals across Asia reflect shared values of gratitude, and togetherness, helping you understand local culture and heritage by taking part rather than just observing.
In Vietnam, spring arrives with Tết, the Lunar New Year and the most important celebration of the calendar. While its spirit is felt across the country, the central region is where age-old traditions remain especially strong. It is a time to honour ancestors, welcome good fortune and reconnect with family.
At Angsana Lang Co, traditional decor and seasonal blossoms set the scene, while thoughtfully curated dining experiences, workshops and events invite you to take part in regional customs. You could watch a Lion Dance performance, dig into a heritage buffet, or join a heartfelt Tết ritual, wrapping traditional chung cakes by hand.
In South Korea, a springtime visit to Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is an excellent opportunity to experience Yeondeunghoe, the Lotus Lantern Festival. Taking place in late April or in early May, it originated as a ritual marking Buddha's birth and has been celebrated for over a thousand years. Buddhist or not, the festival is one of Seoul's most uplifting events. This colourful celebration fills the streets with lanterns and processions, bringing people of all backgrounds together in a shared celebration of light, renewal and hope.
Time in nature
If you are looking for a quieter way to celebrate spring, there is little more restorative than immersing yourself in nature. Away from cities, the season reveals itself through small changes: new growth, clearer air and space to unwind.
At Banyan Tree Anji in China, spring brings fresh life to the surrounding bamboo forests and rolling hills. The season coincides with the Anji white tea harvest, which typically lasts from mid-March to early April. Guided visits to the tea gardens of Huangdu Village allow you to see the harvest firsthand while learning about rural life and the care that goes into every cup. Finish your day by sampling a brew at the resort's rooftop tea lounge. Anji white tea is known for its calming properties –boosted no doubt by the wide-ranging mountain views.
In northwest Vietnam, Garrya Mù Cang Chải is surrounded by mountains and terraced rice fields shaped by generations of H’Mong people. Here, spring is marked by dazzling displays of Hoa Ban flowers. Appearing in March and April, these delicate white blossoms, sometimes tinged with pale pink, are a seasonal highlight unique to the region. Closely tied to local culture, their arrival signals a subtle shift in the landscape and is celebrated with the Hoa Ban Festival, a showcase of traditions, folk art, cuisine, and the traditional costumes of local ethnic groups.
To continue exploring spring’s spirit of renewal, discover our stories on reconnecting with nature, mindfulness and joyful wellbeing.