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August 26, 2015

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Blazing yellow sunflowers paint a pretty picture

By Wu Huixin | August 26, 2015, Wednesday | Print Edition

THERE’S something about a large field of sunflowers that gives off a feeling of hope and vigor. Such scenes are common in southern France and Italy. Both countries attract swarms of Chinese tourists, who often enjoy such late summer vistas.

Hangzhou residents are lucky since they don’t need to travel so far to appreciate such scenes. Shanghai Daily recommends several places where sunflowers paint the fields yellow.

Shenxianju

Shenxianju Scenic Area in Xianju County draw visitors every early autumn with its hectares of sunflowers. To develop the county’s agriculture and tourism, the local government began organizing an annual sunflower festival years ago.

Since sunflowers usually bloom in August, when high temperatures sometimes dampen enthusiasm for traveling, local authorities changed the planting time so they would blossom in the autumn.

Starting from mid-September, the scenic area is covered with vibrant yellow flowers. Photography contests will be held during the festival and they are expected to attract shutterbugs from Zhejiang and other provinces.

Shenxianju, in Chinese, literally means “a place where immortals resided.” The area is often shrouded with a swirling mist, which creates a mythical ambience that also attracts filmmakers who use it as a setting for movies.

The scenic area also features dozens of waterfalls and temples.

How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Changzhou-Taizhou Expressway — Shaoxing-Zhuji Expressway — Zhuji-Yongjia Expressway

Shangshuwei Village

Shangshuwei Village of Anji County is on the border of Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. Since the village is hidden in a valley with only one road connecting it to the outside world, it has retained much of its original appearance and folklore.

Villagers have cultivated sunflowers for years. Unlike Shenxianju’s undulating sunflower fields, Shangshuwei’s flowers are planted in terraced fields, which are dotted with vegetables and trees.

Since more people are attracted to village in early autumn to see the sunflowers, villagers have started developing happy farmhouses, which provide simple food and accommodation.

Visitors can also pick their own fruits and vegetables, and even cook it themselves in village-style kitchen stoves.

Up until 600 years ago, the village was known to few in China. But around that time, one villager was elected minister through a national imperial exam. Thereafter, it was renamed Shangshuwei, which literally means “minister village” in Chinese.

How to get there: Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway — 204 provincial road

Pingfeng campus of Zhejiang University of Technology

Many Hangzhou locals believe the best place to view sunflowers is the Pingfeng campus of Zhejiang University of Technology. The campus has a vegetable garden where eggplants, cucumbers, peppers and sunflowers grow. All vegetables grown in the garden are served in the school’s canteen.

Art college faculty members designed the garden. In early autumn it is filled with sunflowers and people flock here to take photos.

Strolling around the campus is rather pleasant, even without the sunflowers.

The campus was established in 2003 with many buildings featuring a European style. Students have nicknamed most of the buildings including “Taipei Arena” for the gym and “Moscow Red” for one classroom building.

How to get there: Bus No. B4/193/28/B7

Xiangshan campus of China Academy of Art

The campus covers an area of more than 500,000 square meters and is surrounded by streams and tree-covered mountains. Although in suburban Zhuantang Town, flocks of visitors still come to see the sunflowers and its avant-garde architecture.

The campus boasts nearly 8,000 square meters of sunflower fields. The combination of sunflowers and interesting buildings makes for an impressive sight.

Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Wang Shu, most of the structures are less than five stories tall with many different sized windows. The buildings are designed so that the curves match the line of the hills in the distance, forming a harmonious bond.

How to get there: Bus No. 189/B-3

Hangzhou


 

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