The canal town of Xinghua, about 30 kilometres north of Taizhou city, sits in the middle of a vast freshwater wetland formed by the rivers draining into the East Sea coastal plain. In early to mid-April, the surrounding farmland transforms into an extraordinary spectacle: the raised-bed fields are planted with rapeseed, and as they flower simultaneously, the landscape becomes a mosaic of vivid yellow platforms floating above the dark water channels.
Boat tours depart from Xinghua town and navigate the channels between the blooming fields — the experience from water level is different from the aerial photographs but equally striking. The peak lasts two to three weeks; outside that window the wetlands are still worth visiting for their birds and quiet rural character, but the flower crowds (which can be large) are absent. The town itself has a small historic street with canal architecture worth an hour's exploration.