Roaming the World (1762): Jiangsu-Anhui Self-Drive Tour Part Three — Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area

In early to mid-April 2024, during a self-drive tour of Jiangsu and Anhui, I visited the Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area in Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area is an important world agricultural heritage site and a four-star rural tourism scenic spot in Jiangsu Province. The image shows the entrance to the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Qianduo Scenic Area, also known as the Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area, is located in Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Duotian (raised fields) are concentrated in Xinghua City, Jiangsu, which is why Xinghua is also called the "Land of a Thousand Islands." The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

These fields are mainly distributed in Duotian Town, Ganggu Township, Zhoufen Township, and Heigao Village of Lizhong Town in Xinghua City. The image shows a tour route map of the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

The thousand-island raised fields feature a unique terrain, surrounded by water on all sides, with countless fields of varying sizes, creating a spectacular sight. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

"Duo" is an agricultural landscape unique to the Lixiahe region. According to historical records, it formed 750 years ago. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

In this watery region lacking soil, the industrious and intelligent people of Xinghua dug net-like deep ditches or small rivers in the lakes and marshes, piling the mud into mounds to create cultivable raised fields. This formed the Xinghua raised field wonder, which holds world-important agricultural heritage value. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Due to the high elevation, good drainage, and fertile soil of the raised fields, they are especially suitable for growing fruits and vegetables. In the 1950s, they earned the reputation of "Raised field rapeseed, leading the nation." The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

With a wide variety and high yield of vegetables, the raised fields are also known as the "Hometown of Vegetables." The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Visiting the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area requires taking a boat. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

The Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area is world-famous for its unique "raised field" topography. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Every year around Qingming Festival, golden rapeseed flowers bloom on the "raised fields" of the Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

The magnificent scenery of "golden rapeseed flowers" attracts numerous tourists. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

"The river has myriad bends of clear water; every field is covered with yellow flowers" is a true depiction of Xinghua's vast sea of flowers and fields. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

The raised fields vary in size and shape and are not connected to each other. Looking out over the fields, one sees a network of rivers and harbors, with each raised field floating like an island on the water, earning the reputation of the "Land of Ten Thousand Islands." The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Visitors can climb the pavilions and towers within the scenic area to overlook the entire sea of rapeseed flowers. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

There are waterways through the sea of flowers. We took a boat ride through the flower sea, enjoying the golden scenery from multiple angles. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Thousands of raised fields float on the water, with clouds and mist swirling, creating a magnificent sight. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

In the spring season, golden rapeseed flowers bloom on the raised fields, like auspicious clouds dancing over the water, or like scattered rosy clouds fallen to earth. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

People immersed in the endless thousand-island rapeseed flowers feel the intoxicating fragrance carried by the breeze, experiencing a sense of joy and breathtaking beauty. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Thousands of raised fields float on the water, with clouds and mist swirling, creating a magnificent sight. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.

Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower is a world-important agricultural heritage site.

Known as "China's most beautiful rapeseed flower sea," the thousand-island rapeseed flowers are renowned nationwide for their raised field landscape in the form of a thousand islands. They are ranked among the world's four major flower seas, alongside the world-famous lavender fields of Provence, the tulip fields of the Netherlands, and the cherry blossoms of Kyoto. The photo was taken at the Xinghua Qiandao Rapeseed Flower Scenic Area.