Cherry blossoms originated in China: scholars   

樱花真正发源地在中国 日本樱花传自中国唐代

Tourists enjoy cherry blossoms at the Moshan scenic spot in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 12, 2015. As weather warms up, cherry blossoms here are in full bloom. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(ECNS) - While South Korea and Japan are fighting over the origin of cherry trees, an expert in China said the plant known for it beautiful cherry blossom, or "sakura" in Japanese, actually comes from China.

According to the China Cherry Industry Association, the cherry blossom originated in China and this fact has been recognized by Japanese scholars, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Monday.

An article from South Korea claiming that the beloved someiyoshino variety of cherry trees is from South Korea's Jeju Island and that South Korea is also home to the famous cherry festival, has triggered disputes from Japanese media.

He Zongru, chairman of the China Cherry Industry Association, said this is a distorted interpretation of the facts.

"As a Chinese person, I have the responsibility to let people learn more about the history of the cherry blossom and the fact that it is native to China," he explains.

Cherry blossoms are not indigenous Japanese or South Korean flowers. They were imported from the Himalayan Mountains in China during the Tang Dynasty, he says.

According to Zhang Zuoshuang, president of the Botanical Garden Division at the Botanical Society of China, there are about 150 different types of cherry blossoms around the world, more than 50 of which are in China.

He said he would like as many Chinese people as possible to know the facts, and he also hopes more people will enjoy the beauty of the blossoms this season.