Visitors tour in the Gucun Park in Shanghai on March 17, 2018.

Visitors pose in front of cherry flowers in Gucun Park yesterday on the first day of the city's annual cherry blossom festival on March 16, 2018.

Over 12,000 visitors braved the cold wind to north Shanghai yesterday on the first day of the city's annual cherry blossom festival.

More are expected to come this weekend to the Gucun Park in Baoshan District for the festival through April 15, the district government said. The park has the largest gathering of cherry blossom trees in the city.

The more than 12,000 cherry blossom trees of 82 species in the park has nearly all bloomed, the park's operator said. The Kawazu-zakura cherry blossom, also known as the "early sakura," has entered its best blooming period. The magnolia, redbud and crabapple flowers will also gradually bloom over the weekend to add the spring flavor to the park.

A large number of people are expected to come to the park the next weekend and early April which coincides with the Qingming Festival holiday, the district said. The daily visitors' number is expected to exceed 100,000. Most of the visitors are expected to come between 9am and noon and leave between 2pm and 6pm, the park said.

Last year, a record of 182,966 visitors visited the park on April 3 during the Qingming Festival holiday.

More subway trains will be put into service to clear the park if the number of tourists surpasses the park’s maximum capacity of 200,000. Ten shuttle buses will be on standby to transport the large number of visitors to the nearest stations of Metro Line 1, 3 and 7. Authorities have allocated 2,000 extra parking spaces. A total of 5,400 cars can be parked at one time.