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Canola flowers -

Seen from above, fields of canola flowers near Xinghua appear as blankets of gold.

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Canola crop -

Canola is a bright-yellow flowering member of the mustard and cabbage family. Prized for use in animal feed, canola, otherwise known as rapeseed, is the third-largest source of vegetable oil and second-largest source of protein meal in the world.

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Panoramic views -

A pagoda provides outstanding panoramic views of Xinghua's canola fields, seen here shimmering in full bloom.

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Tourist attraction -

Each spring, Xinghua attracts thousands of tourists eager to visit the Qianduo (raised wetland fields) Scenic Area and admire hundred of canola flower beds amid interweaving waterways.

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Jiangsu by air -

Rural tourism has seen a robust growth in China, and destinations like Jiangsu province afford city-dwellers an opportunity to experience country life. Pictured is a microlight in flight, one of the more adventurous ways of taking in the sights.

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Above all else -

A vast network of irrigation channels nourish the golden-yellow crop.

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Exploring on foot -

The fields can be explored on foot by following well-trodden trails.

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Waterway walk -

Several suspension footbridges span the waterways, created not only to provide a free-flow of tourists, but to allow access for hundreds of agricultural workers during the harvest.

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Flower flotilla -

Another rewarding way of admiring the mustard-coated countryside is by boat.

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Cultivated for centuries -

Canola has been cultivated in China for two millennia. For some years now Xinghua province has enjoyed a place on China's agricultural heritage list for its use of duo tian, a traditional method of agriculture that consists of raised fields set over irrigation channels.

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Traveling by vehicle -

The canola fields are about a one-hour drive from Taizou, a city located on the East China Sea coast. From here, getting to Xinghua by road takes you along the scenic rainbow road.

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Rainbow Road -

So named for its blue-, yellow-, and purple-trimmed verge, Rainbow Road arrows low over the briny shallows and passes towns and villages that appear as if floating on the water's surface.

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Flower power -

As an agricultural hub, Xinghua is well known for producing other crops besides canola, a harvest that includes chrysanthemum blooms (pictured). The fragrance is quite intoxicating.

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Go it alone, or with a group -

Tourists are free to wander the canola fields, whether alone, in pairs, or in groups. Guided tours are also available.

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Pagoda panorama -

An interesting, almost abstract canvas of the fields and waterways, as seen from the pagoda viewing platform.

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As the seasons turn -

A few weeks before harvest and the fields are still a verdant hue of emerald and jade. As spring approaches, the land begins to turn the color of sunshine.

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Sustainable tourism -

Sightseeing boats tied up along the riverside. Tourism generates substantial income for boat owners and tour guides during the brief but spectacular harvest.

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Water forest -

Located north-west of the city of Xinghua is a vast water forest, known for its dawn redwoods, a tree species rooted in water, which give this outstanding natural wonder its name.

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Natural wonder -

A boat is the easiest way of exploring this watery wilderness. Besides admiring the trees, which are listed as critically endangered in the wild, nature lovers can also admire a host of wildlife.

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Chinese pond heron -

While out and about on the water, look out for the Chinese pond heron, one of the country's nationally protected species.

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Spiritual pursuits -

The water forest can also be explored on foot by following a raised boardwalk that zigzags its way around the trunks of endless lofty dawn redwoods. And don't be surprised to find locals indulging in a spot of tai chi at the water's edge.

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Winter scenery -

The water forest can be explored throughout the year, though of course springtime with its canola showstopper is a favorite season. But consider visiting the forest in fall.

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Fall in the forest -

Fall arrives with warm autumnal colors, when the honey-hued forest is burnished with chimney red and sunset orange.

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Countryside surprises -

A "flightseeing" microlight excursion over the Xinghua countryside brings with it others surprises. Have your camera primed for moments like this, as a villager piles sacks of red skinned onions ready for the market.

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Late harvest -

Flying over the fields in September rewards microlight passengers with a wealth of late harvest photo opportunities like this one: farmers harvesting chives.

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Rice harvest -

Combine rice harvesting is not unusual in Xinghua, given the endless tracts of land on which the crop is cultivated.

Sources: (Healthline) (Heron Conservation) (Save the Redwoods League) (XinhuaNet)

See also: The fascinating history of giving flowers

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