Ili Lavender Fields

Lavender was introduced to the Ili valley in the 1960s because the latitude, altitude and dry sunny summers resemble the growing conditions of southern France, and it took: Huocheng county now produces a large majority of China's lavender and supplies oil, dried flower and cosmetic industries. Fields run in purple strips against the Tian Shan foothills, flowering mainly in June with a lighter second cut later in the summer, and distilleries process the crop nearby. Several farms have opened as visitor sites with photo areas and shops, while much of the growing area is simply seen from the roads between villages.

What to look for

• The purple strips - lavender fields against the Tian Shan foothills.
• The harvest - cutting and carting through late June.
• The distilleries - oil extraction from the local crop.
• The farm parks - visitor sites with photo areas and product shops.

When to go

June is the main bloom and the only reliable window; a smaller second flowering comes later in summer in some fields. Outside those weeks the fields are green or cut. Mornings are best for scent and light.

Good to know

The season is short and varies by a week or two each year. Farm parks charge entry and are crowded at weekends in June. Outside bloom there is nothing to see.

Nearby

Yining and the Kazanqi quarter lie east; Sayram Lake is northeast.