Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area

The Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area comprises zones such as a sightseeing area, a vacation and leisure area, an amusement and interaction area, and a deep processing experience area for spice flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables. Here, travelers can not only admire lavender fields but also pick various seasonal fruits and vegetables like plums and sweet apricots; they can not only learn about the planting and cultivation of various spice flowers (including lavender and peonies) but also witness and participate in the production process through which various fresh flowers are turned into high-quality products such as essential oils and hydrosols.

Highlights of Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area

Lavender Flower Sea

Lavender Flower Sea

Yili Tianshan Flower Sea boasts a lavender field of 22,000 mu (about 1,467 hectares) or even larger, which is one of the largest single lavender planting areas in the world. From June to September every year, lavender blooms in full blossom. The rolling purple seas of flowers, set against the distant towering, snow-capped mountains and the broad, magnificent Yili River Valley, create a picturesque landscape. Lavender begins to bloom gradually from late May, with its flowering period lasting until September—longer than that in Provence—giving you ample time to visit Yili and admire the floral splendor.

Peony Flower Sea

May is the blooming period of peonies in Yili Tianshan Flower Sea. They are as red as fire, as pink as rosy clouds, and as white as snow. Thousands of peonies are in full bloom, just like nature's palette. Wandering among them, one is intoxicated by the lingering fragrance of the flowers.

Kochia Field

Kochia is a round herbaceous plant, and the kochia field in summer is like a scene from a cartoon. In July, over 20,000 kochia plants form a 5-kilometer-long "green carpet," which is very healing and beautiful. In October, the kochia plants turn from green to red, making the scenery even more spectacular. You can stroll among them and experience the unique rural scenery.

Educational Value

The standardized planting patterns of lavender, peonies and other plants in the scenic area (such as planting density, row spacing planning, irrigation systems, etc.) demonstrate the combination of "landscape agriculture" and "cash crop cultivation" in modern agriculture. Visitors can learn how the growth habits of different plants affect the choice of planting techniques, and understand the close relationship between agricultural production and natural conditions.

Activities to do at Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area

Leisure and entertainment activities: Visitors can experience amusement projects such as glass water slides, colorful slides, high-altitude bicycles, and cliff swings to enjoy excitement and fun. They can also choose to camp in the scenic area, sitting around with relatives and friends to enjoy leisure time. During certain periods, the scenic area will also hold bonfire parties, where visitors can enjoy song and dance performances and participate in interactive games by the bonfire.

Research and study experience activities: Visitors can walk into the essential oil workshop to watch the whole process of lavender being refined into essential oil up close, feel the magical charm of natural plants, and also make an exclusive lavender soap by themselves to take this romance and fragrance home.