As a lover of the real "off the beaten track tourist gems", this is one of the latest editions to my list. Enchanted and inspired by a visit to the Yunnan Province in December 2012, it was time to return to check out the sights in and around the city of Luoping, the main point was to admire the marvellous Yellow Canola Fields at Jin Ji Cun.
Luoping in its splendid disconnected world, "isn't even in the Lonely Planet" and that's what made me more eager to check out this place. There are yellow canola fields everywhere, the plant is grown in the remote countryside near Luoping, mainly next to a village called Jin Ji Cun (but in other parts too). Basically to see the yellow fields in Luoping (as they are often referred to) head to the village of Jin Ji Cun.
What are these Yellow Canola Fields?
This series of yellow fields are so coloured due to the flowers. The rapeseed harvest in Spring contains a load of yellow flowers adding magnificent colour to the region. It is used to make Canola Oil.
When to visit the Yellow Fields?
Spring time. The yellow Canola fields are only in bloom once a year, normally sometime between February and April so go then to see them. The rest of the year, they are just not yellow!
Getting to Luoping Yellow Canola Fields:
It's quite tricky to get to. Start off in the city of Luoping and get a bus out to Jin Ji Cun. Check with the locals by showing them photos of the fields and the Chinese character names. From there it's a 20 minute bus ride.
From Luoping bus station, ask how to get to Jin Ji Cun, Yellow Canola Fields. You will get a green minibus from the main road, which costs just 5RMB each. It's a very local bus and a local experience. If you are foreign like me (a travelling Northern Irishman) you will really stand out from the crowd. There were NO other foreigners anywhere in sight in this part of the Yunnan Province.
The bus will get you there in around 20 - 25 minutes and you will notice the yellow fields on the right hand side.
How much does it cost to visit the Yellow Canola Fields?
There is no entry fee! The yellow canola fields are natural and completely free to visit, the beauty of the travelling lifestyle.
What do you do at the Yellow Canola Fields in Jin Ji Cun?
They are yellow canola fields. You look at them and you admire them and you take some photos. Yes that's it. On the way there you walk down a path through a market where there are lots of local food stalls - things like potato, chicken and honey are all sold here. The path is less than 500 metres long and that's the only commercial thing here! There is no ticket booth and certainly no widespread advertising. This is as natural and uncommercial as a top tourist attraction can get.
To get really decent views over the yellow Canola fields, head to the top of one of the small hills in and around the fields. There are custom built paths up to the top.
Once you've seen it, head to the village of Jin Ji Cun to get a place to stay for the night. The yellow canola fields are meant to look great at sunrise and sunset. When we visited, you couldn't see the sun at all, so it was just admiring the fields themselves!
Are these yellow canola fields at Jin Ji Cun special?
NO, of course not - these types of fields are everywhere, including parts of China, Australia, Canada and the USA. BUT this is a great place to see a vast number of them looking so pretty. It is also a fantastic off the beaten track spot and it was my first time to see these types of yellow fields. I really recommend it!
What else is there to do near the Yellow Canola Fields?
There are a few other things to see and do including an incredible national park with the 9 dragons waterfalls and riding on the back of a cart led by a yak. But the main attraction for now is the Yellow Canola Fields!
Luoping in its splendid disconnected world, "isn't even in the Lonely Planet" and that's what made me more eager to check out this place. There are yellow canola fields everywhere, the plant is grown in the remote countryside near Luoping, mainly next to a village called Jin Ji Cun (but in other parts too). Basically to see the yellow fields in Luoping (as they are often referred to) head to the village of Jin Ji Cun.
What are these Yellow Canola Fields?
This series of yellow fields are so coloured due to the flowers. The rapeseed harvest in Spring contains a load of yellow flowers adding magnificent colour to the region. It is used to make Canola Oil.
When to visit the Yellow Fields?
Spring time. The yellow Canola fields are only in bloom once a year, normally sometime between February and April so go then to see them. The rest of the year, they are just not yellow!
Getting to Luoping Yellow Canola Fields:
It's quite tricky to get to. Start off in the city of Luoping and get a bus out to Jin Ji Cun. Check with the locals by showing them photos of the fields and the Chinese character names. From there it's a 20 minute bus ride.
From Luoping bus station, ask how to get to Jin Ji Cun, Yellow Canola Fields. You will get a green minibus from the main road, which costs just 5RMB each. It's a very local bus and a local experience. If you are foreign like me (a travelling Northern Irishman) you will really stand out from the crowd. There were NO other foreigners anywhere in sight in this part of the Yunnan Province.
The bus will get you there in around 20 - 25 minutes and you will notice the yellow fields on the right hand side.
How much does it cost to visit the Yellow Canola Fields?
There is no entry fee! The yellow canola fields are natural and completely free to visit, the beauty of the travelling lifestyle.
What do you do at the Yellow Canola Fields in Jin Ji Cun?
They are yellow canola fields. You look at them and you admire them and you take some photos. Yes that's it. On the way there you walk down a path through a market where there are lots of local food stalls - things like potato, chicken and honey are all sold here. The path is less than 500 metres long and that's the only commercial thing here! There is no ticket booth and certainly no widespread advertising. This is as natural and uncommercial as a top tourist attraction can get.
To get really decent views over the yellow Canola fields, head to the top of one of the small hills in and around the fields. There are custom built paths up to the top.
Once you've seen it, head to the village of Jin Ji Cun to get a place to stay for the night. The yellow canola fields are meant to look great at sunrise and sunset. When we visited, you couldn't see the sun at all, so it was just admiring the fields themselves!
Are these yellow canola fields at Jin Ji Cun special?
NO, of course not - these types of fields are everywhere, including parts of China, Australia, Canada and the USA. BUT this is a great place to see a vast number of them looking so pretty. It is also a fantastic off the beaten track spot and it was my first time to see these types of yellow fields. I really recommend it!
What else is there to do near the Yellow Canola Fields?
There are a few other things to see and do including an incredible national park with the 9 dragons waterfalls and riding on the back of a cart led by a yak. But the main attraction for now is the Yellow Canola Fields!
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