In Beijing, the months of April and May mark the peak period for poplar and willow catkins. In recent days, the streets of Beijing have been filled with white catkins floating in the air, sparking discussions among netizens on social media. Some netizens from southern China have expressed terror at the sight, while some residents of Beijing feel that this year’s abundance of catkins is more severe, causing difficulty in breathing and a sensation of suffocation.
Many videos showing the streets of Beijing blanketed with white catkins have been shared on social media platforms from mainland China. The catkins not only appear in large numbers but also have large volumes. This phenomenon is not limited to a specific location in Beijing but rather a common occurrence in the daily lives of city residents.
In an interview with the media, a Beijing resident helplessly expressed, “Catkins have always been present in Beijing, and I have already become accustomed to it. To completely get rid of catkins, it would cost tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions. The authorities have run out of money, and their attitude is that you can leave Beijing if you can’t tolerate it. They (the authorities) are not concerned with these minor issues.”
Some Beijing residents feel that the abundance of catkins this year is particularly severe. Some have even humorously commented in videos, “Beijing, are you afraid to feature this in disaster movies?”
According to reports by mainland media, this year’s catkin season arrived early and is causing breathing difficulties. Poplar and willow catkins are penetrating into every nostril, and this situation is expected to last for over a month. It is warned that catkins are highly flammable, similar to gasoline. It is advised to avoid going out during the peak catkin times from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for allergy sufferers to take precautions.
Tourists from outside Beijing have also taken to social media to complain about the situation. A tourist from Shandong lamented, “My eyes, nose, help!” Another tourist from Gansu shared, “I experienced it yesterday, it was too much, my eyes hurt all day.” A netizen from Shanghai expressed disbelief, “How can Beijing residents survive in such an environment?” Many netizens from southern China described the situation as “terrifying.”
A netizen from Sichuan, suffering from chronic rhinitis, commented, “Even just looking at the screen, my nose feels itchy.”
Some netizens from Zhejiang mentioned that catkins are also present in Hangzhou but not as severe as in Beijing. Another netizen from Zhejiang explained that although there are willow trees in their area, they are mostly planted along rivers. Even if catkins are present, they are likely to have flown into the river early on.
A netizen from Hunan expressed concern that the sight of the catkins makes it hard to breathe, feeling like they could be suffocated. Another netizen from Anhui shared their experience of spending two days in Beijing, feeling driven to madness by the overwhelming catkins.
Public records indicate that in the previous century, Beijing used willow trees to combat desertification on a large scale. Due to the widespread planting of these trees, mainly using female seeds without consideration for male seeds, and planting them extensively along the city’s main roads, riverbanks, and urban green belts such as Chang’an Avenue and the Second and Third Ring Roads, Beijing now faces a high density of catkins.
Official sources claim that the catkin problem is challenging to resolve in the short term and that a long-term solution would require replacing the female trees with new tree species to reduce the annual production of catkins.