Yunnan’s Yuanjiang and Shiping Blossom with Industries Driven by Flowers

Yuanjiang County in Yuxi, Yunnan Province, is one of China’s major jasmine-producing areas. As the jasmine enters its peak blooming period, local farmers are not only selling fresh flowers but also processing jasmine into scented tea, essential oil and other deep-processed products, effectively boosting their income and vitalizing the local rural economy. 

Yunnan Daily reports that in the jasmine planting bases of Yuanjiang, stretches of jasmine flowers are in full bloom, releasing a fresh and elegant fragrance. Benefiting from the unique subtropical climate with sufficient sunlight and suitable temperature, jasmine here can be harvested about one month earlier than in other producing areas, with the harvesting period lasting until November. In the fields, farmers are seizing the fine weather to pick jasmine buds, while purchasers have come in advance to place orders, ensuring a stable sales channel for the fresh flowers. 

Inside the production workshops of local processing enterprises, machines hum continuously, and the aroma of tea blends with the fragrance of jasmine. Beyond scented tea, jasmine is also processed into high-value-added products such as essential oil and extract, which has effectively extended the industrial chain and increased the added value of jasmine products. 

It is understood that the jasmine planting area in Yuanjiang is about 11,400 mu. In 2025, the trading volume of fresh jasmine flowers exceeded 6,000 tonnes, with a comprehensive output value reaching 157 million yuan. “Jasmine planting has brought us a stable income. I can earn more than 3,000 yuan every month during the peak harvesting period,” said Zhang Xiulan, a local jasmine grower with 8 years of planting experience. 

Meanwhile, by the Yilong Lake in Shiping County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, tens of thousands of Cassia fistula flowers have entered their peak blooming period. Yilong Lake is one of the nine major plateau lakes in Yunnan, and the pink flower sea formed by the Cassia fistula flowers contrasts beautifully with the rippling blue lake water, attracting numerous tourists to come and enjoy the spring scenery. 

People’s Network notes that the romantic flower sea has become a popular scenic spot in Shiping County. The local government has vigorously promoted the integration of agriculture and tourism, as well as culture and tourism, developing various formats such as sports events, themed cultural and creative products, and health and wellness tourism. 

According to statistics, since the start of this year, Shiping County has received a total of more than 1 million tourists, injecting strong vitality into the local tourism industry. “We have integrated the flower resources with local culture and natural scenery, allowing tourists to not only appreciate the flowers but also experience the unique ethnic customs here,” said Li Ming, director of Shiping County Culture and Tourism Bureau. 

Both Yuanjiang and Shiping have leveraged their unique flower resources to develop characteristic industries. While Yuanjiang focuses on deep processing of jasmine to increase farmers’ income, Shiping takes advantage of the flower sea scenery to boost the tourism industry, showing a vivid picture of rural revitalization and high-quality development in Yunnan.