In pics: Plum blossoms on Xuedou Mountain

Plum blossoms come into full bloom in Xuedou Mountain scenic area in Ningbo's Fenghua district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Plum blossoms have recently come into full bloom on Xuedou Mountain in Ningbo's Fenghua district, adding a splash of color to the scenic spot. 

The famous Buddha Maitreya statue on Xuedou Mountain is the biggest copper statue of its kind in the world.

Maitreya, also known as Sakyamuni Buddha or Laughing Buddha, is associated with the image of a jovial figure, with a big belly and a joyous grin stretching from ear to ear.

A Fenghua-born monk nicknamed Budai, which means cloth bag in Chinese, is considered to be an incarnation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, as he was always seen with a big bag that promised goodies.