Blooming rapeseed flowers across China are encouraging sightseers to go out, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the yellow palate bringing vitality to the dull winter scenery.
China is a big country and the blooming time of rapeseed flowers ranges between February and November.
The fields are mostly concentrated in the country's southern area, though they're also found in some parts of northern China. So if you miss the earliest rapeseed blooms, make sure to head northwards or westwards to catch the beautiful sights of golden fields.
Luoping County in southwest China's Yunnan Province is normally the first to see the blooming of rapeseed flowers. /CFP
Luoping County in southwest China's Yunnan Province is the first blooming spot of these flowers. Rain is no stranger to the place with the average annual relative humidity reaching 85 percent.
As early as February, when the winter cold is still gripping most of China, rapeseed flowers in Luoping begin to signal the arrival of spring. The county has earned the nickname "Hometown of gold and jade" because of the sprawling swathes of yellow across hills, valleys and terraces.
The unique black-and-white houses in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, are in contrast to the yellow rapeseed flowers, giving visitors a breathtaking view of the countryside scenery. /CFP
Wuyuan County, a popular destination among travelers in Jiangxi Province, east China, is another well-known place to enjoy rapeseed flowers.
According to local tourism authorities, the best viewing period in the region lasts from March 10 to March 25 this year. The unique black-and-white houses offer a beautiful contrast to the bright meadows of the countryside.
Unlike other places, the rapeseed flowers in Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, grown in small and scattered fields next to the water. /CFP
Xinghua in Jiangsu Province is a historical and cultural city located on the north wing of the Yangtze River Delta. Unlike other places, fields of rapeseed flowers here are small and scattered. The viewing season usually starts in April.
Menyuan in Qinghai Province is home to the largest rapeseed field in China and the world. /CFP
But the largest rapeseed field in the country and the world is in Menyuan in northwest China's Qinghai Province, where the planting area spreads over 33,300 hectares.
Through continuous efforts in recent years, rapeseed flowers have become a main attraction and one of the major highlights of Qinghai tourism. The best flowering time here is in the middle of July.
Blue, white and yellow – rapeseed flower fields on the Tibetan Plateau definitely are picture perfect. /CFP
The Tibetan Plateau is the highest place where rapeseed flowers bloom in China, and on the roof of the world, the plants are peppered everywhere, from Lhasa to the Himalayan Mountains and from Gyangze to Xigaze. With towering snow-capped mountains and the clear blue sky in the background, the neon colored blooms here offer unparalleled breathtaking views.
The best flowering time here begins in July and can last until November.