They all say the April flowers are gone from the plains, but up on the mountain they've only just opened.
Tips
history
From Bai Juyi's 《大林寺桃花》 (Tang dynasty): 人间四月芳菲尽，山寺桃花始盛开。长恨春归无觅处，不知转入此中来。 Written when Bai Juyi visited Dalin Temple on Mount Lu and found peach blossoms still blooming there — the altitude delays the bloom. A celebrated observation that spring merely moved up the mountain.
usage
Pronounce 芳菲 as fāngfēi (both first tone). Always quoted together with its second half 山寺桃花始盛开 — the contrast is the whole point.
