Xinjiang Chartered Tour Bus: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (Same)
The lavender in Yili is mainly distributed in the 65th, 70th, 71st, 73rd, 67th, and 68th Regiments of the Fourth Division of Agricultural Reclamation in the Yili River Valley, as well as Sangong Township, Huocheng County. Among them, the 65th Regiment and Sangong Township are designated by the country as the ‘Hometown of Lavender in China’, with thousands of acres of lavender fields forming a sea of purple.
Mid-June each year is when the lavender blooms, but the viewing period is very short, only about a week. If you go too late, the lavender will all be harvested, and you will only be able to imagine the spectacular scene of lavender blooming through lavender essential oil.
The lavender here is planted in units of ‘households’, so it is difficult to see large patches of lavender. Moreover, visiting someone else’s yard usually requires paying some money. Along the way from Sayram Lake to Yining, you will constantly see lavender farms.
Transportation
1. Most people who go to Yili to view lavender rent a car from Urumqi. The shortest conventional route is about seven days, taking in attractions such as Sayram Lake, Kalajun Grassland, Zhaosu Grassland, Tekes, and Nalati Grassland in the Yili River Valley. This is also the most classic way to explore Yili. The price for renting a small car in Urumqi during the peak season is about 500 yuan per car per day.
2. Alternatively, you can rent a car from Yili city for a one-day round trip. The cost for a small car is approximately 400-500 yuan.
Tickets
No admission fee.
There is no admission fee to view lavender on the highway. To enter the farmland for a visit and photos, you need to pay the farmer around 5-10 yuan; the main attraction, Jieyou Princess Lavender Farm, sells tickets separately, with a peak season price of 35 yuan and an off-season price of 17 yuan.
Travel Tips
Lavender is a must-visit place for taking photos in Yili. It is available in many places, but it is not very convenient to get there by car. It is recommended to drive if possible, greatly enhancing travel convenience. The lavender blooming season in Yili is generally from mid-to-late June to early July. Yili in Xinjiang is one of the three major lavender production bases in the world, with the other two being in Provence, France, and Furano, Hokkaido, Japan.
Among all the lavender fields in Huocheng, the most renowned is the Jieyou Princess Lavender Farm. There are also the Hanjia Princess Lavender Farm in Lucaogou and the newly opened Fangcao Muge. Lavender is harvested twice a year. If you miss the Lavender Festival in early June, you can still catch the next harvest in mid-August. Of course, several lavender farms will not harvest their flowers; if the season is wrong, the flowers may wilt.
These lavender farms near the 65th Regiment each have their own characteristics. Fangcao Muge is newly opened and has fewer tourists; secondly, the flower field has a great view for photos, with a distant view of snow-capped mountains and little interference from human-made structures such as houses and electric poles. The drawback is that the flower bushes are relatively short, but they should look better next year. The most renowned is Jieyou Princess, which is also the most developed. The flower bushes are larger and the color is darker. There is also a tourist center across from the farm, providing one-stop services for parking and shopping. Additionally, there is Hanjia Princess in Lucaogou, which is some distance from Jieyou Princess. The size of the flower bushes is between Jieyou Princess and Fangcao Muge. It is located along the roadside and also has a distant view of snow-capped mountains.
If you want to take beautiful photos in the lavender field, it is recommended to do so in the morning or evening. Be sure to avoid the direct sunlight around 4 pm, as it can make you look darker~
The best quality lavender planted here is the narrow-leaved lavender from Europe. It is a precious natural spice plant. Visitors can bring back a few bottles of essential oil as gifts for their friends.
Xinjiang Chartered Tour Bus: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (Same)