One year ago I posted on ebeijing website 3 pictures of magnolia  taken on the pedestrians not far away from Peking Hotel in downtown area. Before the Qingming Festival (in early April) each year it's the period of magnolia blossoming in Beijing.
 

On March 30 this year yulan magnolias began to blossom  in Sun Yat-sun Park when I toured the part of the  Park where several magnolia trees are  a unique attraction. The pure white and beautiful magnolias merged on the ground in front of She Ji Tan, the Altar of the Earth and Harvests, that was where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties held grand ceremonies. They offered sacrifices to the God of the Earth and the God of Harvests.  Hence the meaning of the ceremonies were to pay respect to them.

Nowadays this important place of the old imperial garden attracts many visitors from both home and abroad.

Magnolia trees and other flowers combined with the beauty of green and ancient cypresses provide an extraordinary view. Seven of these trees are particularly large; each would need four persons to encircle it with their arms outstretched full length. They are believed to be about a thousand years old.  The following photos are close ups that will give you a clear view of the magnolias.