Spring is arriving in Beijing, at last. This is a time of year when temperatures can rapidly go up or down.

Recently the city had a spell of lovely, warm weather, followed by a day of wet snowfall. That snow quickly disappeared, replaced the next day by pleasant blue skies and warmer temperatures. Such variations are typical in early spring weather for Beijing, where winter and warmer conditions compete until the real warmth finally arrives.

This climate does encourage colorful spring blossom to appear on the city’s trees, a seasonal event Beijingers really appreciate. However, such delightful scenes sadly don’t last. When the blossoms do arrive, it is a time to be out with a camera or smartphone and capture those fleeting moments of beauty, which many were doing on the weekend.

Sanlihe River, east of Qianmen, is one of my favorite locations in central Beijing. It is a place of beauty where excellent work has been undertaken to preserve an older, historic part of the city while creating a vibrant local environment.

There, I joined many locals and visitors enjoying the weather, the scenery and, of course, blossoms on the riverside trees.

It was a great moment in the sunshine and an opportunity to appreciate the charm of this part of historic Beijing, spring blossoms and the Sanlihe River.

All images are from the Sanlihe area of historic Beijing.