Osmanthus trees across Wuxi are covered with tiny blossoms. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Autumn has arrived in Wuxi, and so has the city's most fragrant season. The osmanthus flowers are beginning to bloom across streets, lanes, parks and ancient gardens, filling the air with a sweet scent that residents and visitors have been waiting for all year. The fragrance can be noticed long before the trees come into view.

Huishan Ancient Town is one of the best places to enjoy it. Osmanthus trees can be seen every five to 10 steps, including several century-old specimens near Huishan Temple and Jichang Garden.

Lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice and topped with osmanthus honey. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

Plum Garden, home to a wide range of high-quality varieties, is the city's most concentrated osmanthus viewing area and a specialized garden that is famous for its floral displays. Popular spots include the hillside and the area near the Rong Family's ancestral residence.

At Donglin Academy, a historic academy dating back a millennium, falling blossoms scent the old bricks and tiles. Parks and tree-lined avenues across the city also make the fragrance easy to find.

Taro simmered in osmanthus syrup. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]

The season is not only a treat for the nose. Lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice and topped with osmanthus honey, chestnuts stir-fried with sweet osmanthus sugar, and taro simmered in osmanthus syrup are autumn favorites, offering a sweet taste of Wuxi. For many locals, the aroma also marks the return of comforting cool-weather dishes.

With the flowers just beginning to open, now is the time to step outside, follow the scent and enjoy this brief seasonal pleasure. The display is expected to draw many visitors in the coming weeks.