The 2011 International Azalea Festival in Bijie will be held April 8 to 22, in scenic Baili Dujuan in Guizhou province.

The area is one of the largest natural azalea areas in the world, covering 12,600 hectares, with more than 40 types of azaleas.

It includes the biggest azalea shrub ever found - the 1,000-year-old "King of Azaleas" that has thousands of flowers.

Cultural performances by the Li, Miao and Bouyei people, along with local snacks, will be available at the festival. Nearby tourism sites include the Huangguoshu Waterfall and Zhijindong karst cave.

It takes three and a half hours to get there by bus from the capital, Guiyang, to Quanxi county, where there is regular bus service for the remaining 27 kilometers to the scenic spot.