Other places to visit
Luoping, Yunnan province
The golden rape flowers in Luoping county are the first to blossom in China, and usually begin to bloom shortly after Spring Festival in February.
About 240 kilometers east of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, Luoping has rapeseed flowers covering an area of nearly 540 square kilometers, where its flowering period varies depending on the weather.
The Jinji mountains, Jiulong town (also known as Niujie) and the Shiwanda mountains are the top three recommended viewing places. Travelers can visit the three scenic spots for free.
Visitors are recommended to climb to the top of the main peak overlooking the imposing blossoms from the observation deck, or be overwhelmed by the sea of golden flowers from the foot of the mountains.
The view of the blossoms from the mountains change depending on the time of day, where they appear to be shrouded in a misty veil at dawn and bathed in a beautiful golden light at sunset.
Wuyuan, Jiangxi province
Wuyuan county has long been renowned for its sprawl of golden rape flowers that covers its plains and terraced hillsides over an area of nearly 70 square kilometers.
The flowering phase this year is estimated to last for at least 30 days, from March 15 to April 15, while the best time to appreciate them is between March 15 and April 10.
Rape flowers in tourism resorts such as Sixiyan village and Rainbow Bridge in eastern Wuyuan are in full blossom from March 5 thanks to the warmer climate there.
Visitors can take a cable car, helicopter or hotair balloon to get a bird’s-eye view of the blossoms and surrounding picturesque scenery. A glass boardwalk set 120 meters above the ground is also open to the visitors who want to walk above the sea of flowers.
Two ticket packages, 210 yuan ($30) for a twoday pass and 150 yuan for one-day pass, are available to visitors, allowing travelers to visit 12 scenic spots in and around Wuyuan.
Tongnan, Chongqing
Rape flowers in Tongnan county, Chongqing city, is renowned for its flower field shaped like a
taijitu — the “supreme ultimate” represented by the ying and yang symbol in Chinese philosophy — which attracts millions of visits every year.
Intermingled with wheat plants, the flower field measures 236 meters in diameter, and highlights the Taoist symbol with splendid blossoms.
The rape flowers in Tongnan bloom in late February, and this year’s flowering phase will last until the end of April, with March being the best time to appreciate them.
The Tongnan government has held rape flowerthemed festivals every year between March and April since 2008. The 2018 rape flower festival kicked off on March 2, and the ticket price is 50 yuan per visit.
Leisure activities such as hot-air balloon trips, barbecuing and camping are available to visitors during the festival for an extra charge of between 30 and 80 yuan.
Guiding, Guizhou province
The rape flowers in Guiding county, Guizhou province, shine among the blossoms of pear flowers, which take on a breathtaking variety of colors ranging from lily-white to golden yellow.
Blooming in early March with a flowering phase lasting about 30 days, the rape flowers can be seen spreading over the plain in full blossom set against the backdrop of mountains covered with pear flowers.
Guiding was named one of the top 10 rape flower travel destinations in the province in 2017. Visitors can take in the splendid scenery for 58 yuan per visit.
Ten other top-tier festivals highlighting rape and pear flowers have been held in the province between March and April since 2005. Photo exhibitions, gourmet festivals and bonfire parties also attract visitors to the area.
Menyuan, Qinghai province
The golden flowers in the Menyuan Hui autonomous county provide a panoramic vista different from the views of blossoms seen in other provinces, thanks to the unique climate of the Qinghai plateau.
Covering an area of more than 300 square kilometers, the rape flower fields border the Qilian Mountain range to the north and Daban Mountain to the south, and is often referred to as the “golden ocean on the plateau” by locals and visitors alike.
The flowers usually bloom in early July, and the best time to appreciate them this year will be between July 5 and 20. The annual Menyuan rape flower festival runs from July 18 to 25 when the flowers are in full blossom.
The rape flower fields are set in locations at altitudes of over 3,000 meters, so it’s worth taking the potential for altitude sickness into consideration before setting off.
Sun protection is another important factor to consider when visiting Menyuan.