The Ming-dynasty travelogue Xu Xiake Youji describes Yunnan's most splendid flowering trees as its camellias and rhododendrons. The camellias bore flowers as big as bowls, and the rhododendrons bore flowers as big as camellia flowers.
《徐霞客遊記》中記載，雲南花木以山茶、山鵑為最，山茶花大逾碗，至於山鵑，花大賽山茶。