Summer Xin Cihu Thousand-Acre Flower Sea travel guide
1. Overview of the scenic area
Ningbo Cixi Xin Cihu Thousand-Acre Flower Sea is located near Hangzhou Bay, covering more than 1,000 acres. It features a coastal rural ecological landscape and is open to the public for free. The summer highlight is the thousand-acre sunflower field, complemented by sulfur cosmos, zinnias, and lakeside lotus ponds. White wind turbines stand tall in the distance. The lake, flower sea, rice fields, and cross-sea bridge form a scene known as the seaside Van Gogh painting secret spot. The park has well-maintained trails and few visitors. With no high admission fees, it’s perfect for immersive flower photography or lakeside strolls to cool off. It’s an ideal day trip destination from Ningbo, Hangzhou, or Shanghai for summer flower viewing.
2. Best time to visit
1. Photography golden hours
7:30 AM–10:00 AM: soft, clear sunlight with sunflowers facing east in full bloom. Light mist floats over the lake, and the flower sea layers are clean;
4:30 PM–7:00 PM: the sunset bathes the flower fields in golden light. Wind turbines and the lake create backlit silhouettes, and the evening glow enhances the flower sea atmosphere.
2. Best for cooling off: avoid the midday sun from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visit only in the morning or evening. The lakeside boardwalk offers a cool breeze.
3. Summer flower season: sunflowers peak from July to mid-August; sulfur cosmos and zinnias bloom continuously from June to September; lotus and water lilies flourish in the lake from July to August.
4. Opening hours: the flower sea is open all day with no closing time. The natural soft light at dusk is perfect for walking.
3. Transportation guide
Self-driving (highly recommended)
Navigate to "Xin Cihu Thousand-Acre Flower Sea." It’s 20 minutes from Cixi city center, 1 hour from Ningbo, and 2 hours from Hangzhou. Free parking is available along the flower sea roads. On holidays, arrive before 8:00 AM to secure a spot. Do not park on driving lanes.
Public transportation
Take Cixi bus route 201 to Xin Cihu station, then walk 15 minutes to the flower sea entrance. Bus frequency is low and walking distance is long, so this is only suitable for local short trips.
On-site transportation
No sightseeing vehicles are available. The entire area is accessible via flat wooden boardwalks. You can bring your own bike to ride along the lakeside road through the flower sea.
4. Key highlights
1. Thousand-acre sunflower field
A vast golden sunflower field covers the lakeside flatland. Several winding wooden boardwalks weave through the flowers. A two-story wooden viewing pavilion stands in the center, offering a panoramic view of the golden flower sea. The flower height is ideal for portrait photography. On sunny days, the blue sky and golden fields create excellent photo opportunities.
2. Lakeside wooden boardwalk
A waterside trail extends along Xin Cihu, with flower sea on one side and lake on the other. The water reflects sunflowers and wind turbines. Low-angle shots capture the lake and flower sea together. It’s a perfect spot for sunset photos. The lake breeze helps cool off the summer heat.
3. Seaside wind turbine viewing area
On the east side of the flower sea, white large wind turbines stand on open flat land. The combination of rural flower fields and coastal wind turbines recreates a Dutch countryside scene. It’s the top choice for wide-angle panoramic shots. You can also see the outline of the Hangzhou Bay cross-sea bridge in the distance.
4. Lakeside lotus pond shallows
The lake bay has connected lotus ponds. Wooden boardwalks extend into the flowers and leaves. Lotus and water lilies bloom in succession during summer. Small fish swim in the shallow water. This quiet, less crowded spot is perfect for avoiding the main flower sea crowds.
5. Colorful mixed flower slope
Large areas of sulfur cosmos and zinnias intertwine into orange, pink, and white flower bands. An S-shaped flower path leads to the lakeside. The layers are rich, making it a dedicated spot for fresh, Japanese-style portrait photography.
6. Rural picnic lawn
A gentle lawn at the edge of the flower sea faces the entire sunflower field. It’s suitable for laying out picnic mats and relaxing. Scattered shade trees provide some cover, making it ideal for short breaks.
5. Two recommended routes
Half-day easy flower viewing route (for lazy travelers/families)
Flower sea entrance → colorful mixed flower slope photo spot → sunflower wooden boardwalk stroll → two-story viewing pavilion overlooking the flower sea → lakeside boardwalk to enjoy lake and lotus views → wind turbine open area to wait for sunset → return
Full-day in-depth photography route (all-day shooting)
Enter early morning to shoot close-ups of sunflowers → portraits on mixed flower slope path → panoramic aerial view from the pavilion → cool off and shoot at lakeside lotus pond → simple roadside lunch → afternoon lakeside cycling and wandering → wide-angle panoramic shots at wind turbine hill → capture sunset glow on lakeside boardwalk
6. Photo spots & outfit suggestions
Top photo spots
1. Central two-story viewing pavilion: high-angle wide shots of the thousand-acre sunflower panorama, stunning and soothing;
2. Lakeside boardwalk curve: lake, flower fields, and water reflections in one frame, adding depth;
3. Open flat land under the wind turbines: low-angle shots of turbines and the golden flower sea, creating a rural oil painting vibe;
4. S-shaped flower path low angle: sunflowers as foreground, capturing dynamic running portraits with a cinematic feel;
5. Lakeside lotus pond path: low-angle shots of lotus and water reflections, creating a cool, traditional Chinese painting effect.
Outfit recommendations
Pure white, light apricot, and pale blue long dresses suit the sunflower sea. Light-colored casual sets, straw hats, and woven bags are atmosphere essentials. Mosquitoes and insects are common in the flowers, so wear thin long pants. Pair with arm sleeves, sun hats, and bring non-slip flat shoes.
7. Hidden gems
1. Unpopulated field path on the north side of the flower sea, few visitors, no crowds in photos, enjoy the peaceful flower sea alone;
2. Quiet lotus pond on the west side of the lake, almost no visitors, perfect for calm lotus and water reflection shots;
3. Embankment behind the wind turbines at dusk, view the cross-sea bridge. The bridge and flower sea appear in one frame at sunset;
4. Wetlands at the flower sea edge in the early morning, occasional low-flying water birds, great for capturing birds and sunflowers together.
8. Travel essentials & precautions
1. The flower sea has no large continuous shade trees. UV rays are strong. High-SPF sunscreen and sun umbrellas are essential. Bees and mosquitoes are dense in the flowers, so bring insect repellent.
2. Flower viewing is only allowed on wooden boardwalks. Do not step on flower fields or pick sunflowers or lotus flowers. Protect the rural vegetation.
3. There are no large convenience stores in the park, only a few roadside stalls selling drinks and snacks. Bring your own bottled water and sun protection.
4. The lawn is only for picnics. Open flames and barbecues are strictly prohibited. Take all trash with you and leave no trace.
5. Summer afternoons often have sudden showers. Bring a raincoat. Stay away from the wind turbine hill and the two-story pavilion during thunderstorms.
6. Lake depths vary. Swimming, fishing, or catching fish and shrimp is prohibited. Enjoy the lotus pond only from the boardwalk.
7. On holidays, park properly on the roadside. Blocking roads will result in police warnings. Arrive early to secure legal parking spots.
8. Bees are abundant in the flowers. Avoid wearing bright, flashy colors. Do not touch flowers to prevent bee stings.