On June 21, it is now the season of mature harvesting of lavender in the Ili Valley in Xinjiang. Recently, the reporter walked into the Huocheng County of Yili, the important town of the northern Silk Road. Here, tens of thousands of acres of lavender competed in bloom, and the flowers and flowers hit the people. The purple flower sea attracted tourists from all over the world.

Thousands of years ago, on the ancient Silk Road, along with the sound of camel bells, various spices were combined with silk, porcelain, tea and other commodities to leave a fragrance on the ancient road connecting East and West. Today, in the northwestern border of China, a piece of land known as Provence in China has gradually become a gathering place for aromatic products.

In Sigong Township, Lucaogou Town, Huocheng County, 60-year-old flower farmer Zhao Xiangchun cut a woven bag of lavender and bundled it in the field. He sold it on country roads.

"Although there are many stones in the ground, it is relatively dry, but it is especially suitable for the growth of lavender." Zhao Xiangchun planted corn and other crops, but the harvest was not high. Since trying to grow lavender seven years ago, the increasing output and price have prevented him from replacing other crops. Many farmers around him also gradually planted lavender under his leadership.

The Ili Valley is located at the same latitude as Provence, France, with similar climatic conditions and soil conditions, making it the third largest lavender planting base in the world after Provence and Furano in Japan.

Huocheng County has introduced lavender since the 1960s. Today, planting area accounts for more than 90% of China's total. Dried flowers, essential oils and other products are sold at home and abroad, and initially formed an industrial chain of lavender production, processing, sales and ecological tourism.

Every year, during the mature season of lavender, various types of work in the industrial chain such as harvesting, transportation and drying will drive the employment of surrounding farmers to increase income. Ailijiang Aisha and his wife joined the harvesting team from the beginning of the lavender opening. He told reporters that the entire harvest period lasts about half a month. According to the daily work fee of 100 yuan, the couple can increase the income by 3,000 yuan.

Here, the tourists in the flower fields and the farmers harvested, and the villages there were covered with lavender. The heavy floral fragrance is permeated in the village, and from time to time there are farmers who roll the lavender flowers with their forks. Soon after, some traditional oyster sauce will be busy, distilling out the original lavender essential oil and selling it to the surrounding processing plants.

The Yili River Valley is rich in light and hot water, with large temperature difference between day and night, which is conducive to the growth of spice plants, especially suitable for the formation and accumulation of aromatic vegetable oil. Relying on the advantages of resources, the aromatic industry and leading enterprises with private capital as the main force are developing rapidly. At present, the lavender brand in the Ili Valley has grown to dozens.

At present, Xinjiang has become the largest aromatic planting base in western China. The output of dried flowers and essential oils produced in the Ili River Valley accounts for more than 95% of the national similar products. The aromatic industry has become the leading industry in Xinjiang's characteristic light industry.