When Spring Comes to Busan

Spring came to Busan a few weeks ago already, but I was too busy to write about it.

Though Busan is an intense concrete jungle, some parts of town are planted with flower-bearing trees.  With the arrival of the spring sun, the area near my home, Danggam dong (당감동), looked like this:

A spring blossom in Danggam dong (당감동).

Spring blossoms in Danggam dong (당감동).

A street in 당감동, lined with blossoming cherry trees.

Cherry blossoms along a street in 당감동.

Cherry blossoms along a street in 당감동.

Cherry blossoms along a pedestrian walkway in 당감동.

Cherry blossoms in 당감동.

More cherry blossoms along a street in 당감동.

Another street lined with cherry blossoms in 당감동.

 
In many Asian cultures, cherry blossoms have a special significance.  Their blossoming is an important symbol of the arrival of the spring season, a symbol of hope for better days following the long cold winter, and a symbol of hope for a better future.  When spring arrived in Busan, many of the city's residents could be seen slowly driving their cars, or strolling on foot with friends and family in the areas where the cherry trees were in blossom.

Beautiful as they were in daylight, the cherry blossoms were also gorgeous when illuminated by the street lighting at night.

A blossoming cherry tree, illuminated by street lights.