November 13, 2009

The sea of yellow that is rapeseed blooming, Yunnan, China

Location: Luoping, Yunnan, China (31° 15' 0 N, 110° 4' 60 E)
Date: 1 March 2007, 5.20pm

Camera: Canon 400D with Sigma 17-70/f2.8-4.5

Canola or more commonly known as rapeseed is a major source of cooking oil in China. Many parts of China are planted with rapeseed, which normally ripens in the warm of spring. However, as different places in China are located in different attitudes and heights, the ripening and harvest season of rapeseed varies from place to place. Places like Yunnan (like Luoping in the photo), parts of Guangxi, Guizhou etc (all in the south) will have theirs in Feb/Mar while those in places such as Qinghai, Xinjiang will be latter months. When the rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, the plantations and surrounding areas is a sea of yellow and gold. All one can see is just a yellow and golden blanket with the buildings, trees and other fixtures in between. One of the most spectacular places to enjoy this beauty is the Luoping area in the east of Yunnan (at the border with Guizhou and Guangxi).

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