The lavender fields of Huocheng County, about 30 kilometres southwest of Yining, bloom in June and July and draw photographers and tourists from across China. The Ili Valley floor at this season is covered in purple — hundreds of hectares of lavender planted in rows that run to the base of the mountains — with the peaks still carrying snow above the fields and the air carrying the oil's characteristic scent across the valley.
The main lavender scenic area near Huocheng town has an entrance fee and tourist facilities, including oil distillation demonstrations, markets selling lavender products, and the inevitable photo opportunities. The working fields extend well beyond the scenic area, and driving or cycling through the valley on the back roads gives access to less managed sections where the scale of the cultivation is clearer.
Mid-June is the peak flowering period; the harvest begins in early July and the fields are cut by the middle of the month. Coming before the harvest means full bloom; coming during harvest means the unusual sight of purple rows being taken down by mechanical harvesters. The lavender festival, held in June, brings additional visitors but also traditional Kazakh performances and cultural events that are worth the crowd.