With spring around the corner, Yulan magnolia flowers are in full bloom in Beijing, China.

In this group of pictures, the Palace Museum is surrounded with the beautiful flowers which smell like lemon.

Native to China, the Yulan magnolia could be one of the most anticipated spring blossoms for its elegant beauty and sweet fragrance. Because it is one of the first plants to blossom, it is dubbed "an envoy of spring" by Chinese people.

In Chinese culture, the flower is believed to bring wealth and auspiciousness.

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, was completed in 1420. It served as the imperial palace of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, with 24 emperors living there. The museum now houses more than 1.8 million precious cultural artifacts.

(Compiled by Chen Xu; Photos: Courtesy of official social media account of The Palace Museum)