Gansu rose gardens welcomes tourists

The Lanzhou Rose Festival launched in Yongdeng county in the Northwest China's Gansu province on May 18. The festival will see a number of rose gardens open to the public.

A range of activities will be held during the festival, such as a one-day bicycle tour around Yongdeng county, rose picking, a forum on the rose industry and Qinqiang contests - a Chinese folk opera originating from Shaanxi province.

The rose industry is one of Yongdeng county's leading industries in the agricultural sector. Yongdeng has more than 200 years of history in planting roses. In recent years, the county has strengthened its efforts in developing the rose industry to help people improve the lives of its locals. The county's rose planting area has increased each year and around 100 categories of rose products have been produced, including rose essential oil, rose beverages and food.

The development of the rose industry is a driving factor in the growth of Yongdeng tourism. The Lanzhou Rose Festival has been held 8 times in Yongdeng since 2008 and has become a characteristic tourist attraction in Lanzhou. The Lanzhou Rose Festival is also an important part of Gansu's Dunhuang Tour-Silk Road International Tourism Festival.

Amateurs perform bicycle stunts at the opening ceremony of the Lanzhou Rose Festival in Yongdeng county in Northwest China’s Gansu province on May 18. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]