February is the coldest time of the year in most parts of China, but some places in the southern areas of the country are already seeing the blossoming of rapeseed flowers.

Rapeseed flowers blossom in the early spring. Thousands of tourists, especially shutterbugs, are attracted to these places to appreciate the magnificent scenes.

The following three places, all in southwest China, are highly recommended for visitors fancying a sea of rapeseed flowers.

Luoping County, Yunnan Province

Located 228 kilometers northeast of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, Luoping County is famous for its large-scale rapeseed flower fields. Luoping is also the cradle of the Buyi ethnic people. Locals say the blossom period lasts till March.

The Luosi field (spiral shell) in the north of Luoping County, Jinji Peak (golden pheasant peak) in the south, and the Hundred Thousand Hills are the best places to enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

Tips:

1. Transportation: A shuttle bus departs every 40 minutes from Kunming east bus station to Luoping starting from 7:00 in the morning, on a trip that takes 4.5 hours. The ticket costs 25-60 yuan (3.7-8.8 U.S. dollars). Trains from Kunming to Luoping are available too, taking about 3.5 hours.

2. Best visiting time: February to March

Zhongdu Town, Sichuan Province

Zhongdu Town of Pingshan County in Yinbin, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the largest rapeseed oil raw material base in Sichuan with a total of 45,000 acres of rapeseed flowers. Due to the special geographical climate, the rapeseed flowers bloom one to two months earlier than those on the same latitude.

Tips:

1. Transportation: Tourists can drive from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, to Zhongdu Town via Chengle Expressway or from Yinbin City via Pingshan Expressway.

2. Accommodation: There aren’t many restaurants and hotels in the town. Tourists are recommended to return on the same day or set up a tent to spend the evening.

Xingyi City, Guizhou Province

The rapeseed flowers in Xingyi City bloom early around the Lunar New Year. They are mainly planted in the Wanfeng Forest Scenic Area, which is less than five kilometers away from the city. There are about four square kilometers of rapeseed fields in this area, that look like a golden sea.

Tips:

1. Transportation: As a touristic city, Xingyi has a convenient public transportation network. Tourists can reach Xingyi via airplane, railway or expressway.

2. Accommodation: There are around 50 homestays in the Wanfeng Forest Scenic Area, where tourists can experience the culture of the local ethnic groups.