The breathtaking scenery of canola flowers in spring is expected to attract numerous visitors to Hanzhong, a city in the south of western Shaanxi province.

The city’s 10th annual canola flower tourism and culture festival is to open on Mar 13. The festival, also a booming season for tourism in Hanzhong, will run until May 1.

There are more than 600 sq kilometers of canola fields in Hanzhong, which create unique landscape. About 50 observation spots have been designed for the tourists and 29 visiting routes have been created throughout the city.

Tourism forums, expos, a marathon and cycling competitions are among many other events being held during the festival.

Hanzhong was the birthplace of Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), where the first Han emperor Liu Bang started his long journey to conquer the country. Consequently, during the upcoming tourism festival, Hanzhong will also be designated as a destination for overseas students in Shaanxi province to learning about Han Dynasty history.

The city is also home to rare bird species like the crested ibis.