Rape flowers (油菜花) , also known as rapeseed flowers, are grown for the production of edible vegetable oil. The plant called “rape” has disturbing connotations though it is from a Latin word for “turnip”. The rapeseed plants in China are classified into two kinds – winter rapeseed and spring rapeseed, which belong to the cabbage family, the mustard family and cole family. So rapeseed flower is also called cole flower.
Another word for rapeseed is “canola”, a word coined in 1970s by Canada growers. They bred a new variety of rapeseed with a lower content of the toxic erucic acid, they named the improved plant “canola”. Now the word “canola” is widely used, not just only in North America.
Nowadays people tend to be more intoxicated by the golden yellow flowers of rapeseed plants than their nutritious oil. A canola field with a sea of yellow flowers and countryside fresh air, plus pristine country life, is enough to make urban residents crazy.
Each March and April, northerners, the people from North China, including Beijingers, would flock down south to Wuyuan (婺源), or other rapeseed destinations in the southern China to see rape flowers. Wuyuan is located in the north of Shangrao ( 上饶) in the northeast of Jiangxi Province. Actually it is situated on the boundary of three provinces ( Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang). It used to be one of the counties in the ancient Huizhou, a cradle of Huizhou culture. Wuyuan is home to the famous Hui style architectures and the mesmerizing rapeseed flowers.
Now people in Beijing don’t have to bother going down the southern China for a glimpse of rapeseed flowers. Though blooming a bit later than in the southern China, the rapeseed flowers in Beijing are just equally beautiful, attracting more and more local and oversea visitors. We’ve listed a few top places for viewing rapeseed flowers in Beijing, hopefully it will help you a bit when you are planning your Beijing tour.
Just a kindly reminder
While visiting rapeseed fields, take care and don’t damage the drops and plants on the fields. Take away nothing but photos.
1. Rapeseed Flowers at Changgou Town, Fangshan 房山长沟油菜花
Blossom Time: May 25 – June 20
Entrance Fee: Free
Changgou Town is located in Fangshan District, about 75km southwest of Beijing city center. Changgou has long been reputed as “Water Town” with over ten thousand spring heads which generate ponds, streams, lakes and wetlands, dotted with farm courtyards, a large roll of mesmerizing Chinese painting.
Changgou has the largest rapeseed field in Beijing with area of 1300000 m2. It looks gorgeous with the blooming rapeseed flowers.
How to get there
Take Bus 917 from Tianqiao Bus Terminal (天桥汽车站) and get off at Changgou Fangshan (房山长沟). On the west side of the road, you will see the rapeseed field. The bus ride takes about 1 and half hours, and Bus fare : 15 yuan.
2. Canola Flowers at Beizhuang Town, Miyun 密云北庄油菜花
Blossom Time: May 01 – May 20
Entrance Fee: 10 -20 yuan (negotiable)
Beizhuang Town is located in Miyun County, 110km northeast of Beijing city center. There are four canola fields in Beizhuang with the middle one the favorite for rape flower lovers, crossed by tree-lined paths. Just walk along the tree-covered paths, you are on your pace to view and take pictures of the golden yellow rape flowers.
Fed by the water and mountains in Miyu, it is gorgeous to look at the yellow rape flowers in the northern China though they blossom later than their competitors in the southern China. The high mountains in a distant, blue sky and white clouds, strolling on the rapeseed fields is a pleasant escape from the hustle bustle of Beijing.
How to get there
Take the public bus 980 from Dongzhimen Transportation Hub and alight at the final stop of the General Station of Miyun, then change for the local buses for Beizhuang.
3. Rape Flowers at Qiaozi Town, Huairou 怀柔桥梓油菜花
Blossom Time: May 01 – May 20
Entrance Fee: Free
Qiaozi Town is situated in Huairou District, about 60km north of Beijing city center. The rapeseed fields are part of the Zhongtian Hanhai Agricultural Sightseeing Garden (中天瀚海农业观光园). in Qiaozi Township. The garden is about 45km north of Beijing.
The agricultural sightseeing garden is surrounded by the mountains in Huairou, it is a comprehensive garden of leisure, recreation, sightseeing, fruit-picking and scientific education. The rape flowers at the garden is a hit during the blooming season. People are circled in a sea of yellow flowers.
How to get there
Self-drive: Drive up to Jingcheng Expressway and get off at the Exit 13, then continue to drive for 3 km; on your left side, you will see a signboard for Lavender Ranch 薰衣草农庄, then Zhongtian Hanhai Agricultural Garden is in sight.
4. Cole Flowers at Taihu Town, Tongzhou 通州台湖油菜花
Blossom Time: April – May
Entrance Fee: Free
Taihu Town is located in Tongzhou District, about 30 km southeast of Beijing city center. Taihu Town has 21 administrative villages. The township government has actively transformed the local conventional functions and promoted and developed the modern services for eco-agriculture, leisure, sightseeing and so on. Over 10 related agricultural gardens have been built with a total area of 40 hectares, attracting over 5000 visitors each year.
Taihu Town has an canola field of over 300,000m2 along the roads. Driving along the road, you feel as if you are driving in a picture of yellow flowers.
How to get there
Self-drive: Drive up to Jingshen Expressway and branches off at the exit of Tongma Road (通马路), then turn left and again turn left for the direction of Jinyinong (金益农方向), in 5 minutes you will see the yellow and fragrant canola flowers.
Add on
Jingshan Park is not to be missed
See the sunrise from the hilltop of Jingshan Park
See the sunset from the hilltop of Jingshan Park
Beijing Bird Watching
Beijing Hot Spring Break
Beijing Spring Tour
Beijing Spring flower Tour
Top 10 PLaces to See Rapeseed Flowers in Beijing
Best Time to See Plum Blossoms in Beijing
Best Place to See Peach Flowers in Beijing
Best Place to See Peony Flowers in Beijing
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Great Wall Tour
China City Tours
China Tour
Further Readings
How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites
Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping
Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street
Any questions, just drop a line.
