Chasing cherry blossoms in China & Japan
你今年赏樱了吗?
If you're planning to see the spring flowers, hurry up! Flowers don't wait. They blossom and then wither. This is especially true for cherry blossoms, which only last a few days.
如果你打算春天去赏花的话，要抓紧时间了！花开花落可不等人。而花期只有几天的樱花更是如此。
Cherry blossoms usually come out between March and April, depending on the local weather and climate. At this time of year, Beijing's Yuyuantan Park becomes a sea of pink and white. It looks like a postcard with its blooming cherry trees and glistening lake, China Daily noted.
根据各地气候不同，樱花通常在3-4月期间盛开。今年此时，北京玉渊潭公园已经变成了一片粉白色的海洋。据《中国日报》报道，公园内盛开的樱花树和波光粼粼的湖面，看起来就像明信片上的风景一般。

China is not the only place to enjoy cherry blossoms. Each year at this time, these flowers – "Hanami" in Japanese –turn the country pink and white.
中国并非赏樱的唯一去处。每年的这时候，这些樱花 —— 日语中称为“花见” —— 将日本全国都染成了粉白色。
For many Japanese people, April is the best time of year. Viewing the cherry blossoms is important for families and companies. As the cartoon drama Crayon Shin-Chan shows, people are on the spot early in the morning. Some will even compete for small places underneath the trees. They take a picnic lunch, drink sake, enjoy the cherry blossoms and have a great time.
对于许多日本人而言，四月是一年之中的最佳时节。赏樱对亲友来说是一件大事。正如动画片《蜡笔小新》中展现的那样，人们一大早就会来到赏樱地点，甚至抢占树下的一小片位置。人们会带上便当作为午餐，喝着米酒赏樱，度过一段愉快的时光。
However, there is a sad side. As one Japanese saying goes: "Cherry blossoms only have seven days." Cherry blossoms last no more than a week. It tells us that life is beautiful, but short. We should cherish our time.
但赏樱也有伤感的一面。日本有一民谚：“樱花七日。”樱花花期不足一周，寓意人生美丽而短暂，我们应当珍惜时光。