Surely little will delight a woman more today than the promise of never-ending golden flowers. For incoming to the “Essentials” section on the Nanjing calendar once again is the horticultural festival that commands us to prepare ourselves for more yellow than we’ve ever seen!
The 14th China Gaochun International Slow City Golden Flower Tourism Festival (中国·高淳国际慢城金花旅游节) will get underway in Nanjing’s Gaochun District on 12 March and last until 10 May.
Often referred to as “the back garden of Nanjing”, Gaochun is our city’s most southerly district, characterised by its fields of rapeseed flowers that at this time of year go on forever.
Or almost forever. According to Nanjing Daily, over 100,000 mu (67 square kilometres) of rapeseed have been planted in Gaochun, with tens of thousands alone in the Yaxi Slow City development.
It’s a combination that attracts hoards every year, not only for the golden flowers and the photo opportunities they afford, but also to visit the very first Cittaslow in China.
Born in Italy in 1999, the Cittaslow movement emphasises an authenticity of products and good food, places of the spirit and unspoiled landscapes, together with a respect of traditions through the joy of slow and quiet living.
Today, there are 13 places in China which have earned themselves the Cittaslow designation. Here in Nanjing, in July 2010, Angelo Vasaro, then-vice president of the International Cittaslow Alliance, visited Gaochun and said, “This is really like a slow city”.
Praise indeed. Elsewhere, that illustrious travel publication, Lonely Planet, even lists the Golden Flower Tourism Festival as one of the four best cultural festivals to enjoy while visiting Nanjing.
Getting there is straightforward, but time consuming. Take Nanjing Metro Line S9 to its terminus at Gaochun and follow the crowds, and the unavoidable signage. Don’t also forget to take in Gaochun Ancient Street (高淳老街) for a relatively bona-fide taste of life in the China of old.
As the best-preserved such street in Jiangsu Province that dates from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Gaochun Ancient Street is narrow, but long. Over 345 metres are to be found hawkers selling snacks and paraphernalia to tourists out of their, at times authentic, wooden stalls.
