lowers bloom in the desert

Spring brings out the best in Xinjiang's plethora of natural beauty spots

Visitors to Northwest China are more likely to expect to see barren wilderness and deserts than a landscape of blooming flowers, but this is the region that likes to defy expectations.

In the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, picturesque blossoms contribute to a great variety of natural wonders, especially in spring.

Turpan will host the second annual Xinjiang Spring Tourism Expo from March 24 to 26, giving visitors a glimpse of the region's natural beauty.

Themed Blossoms in Four Seasons, Happiness in Xinjiang, this year's expo is focused on introducing tourism routes and brands related to flowers.

One feature will be a tour bus service linking the expo garden with scenic areas filled with apricot flowers in the Turpan Basin, which lies at an altitude below sea level. The relatively high temperatures here makes it the first place in the region where flowers blossom, starting mid-March and lasting for about a week.