螺絲田/Screw Tin: Viewpoint Over Yellow Canola Fields Near Luoping, Yunnan Province, China

You might have seen my post on the fantastic yellow canola fields near Luoping in China and thought they looked spectacular. Well, yes they were pretty on the eye and while I enjoyed our afternoon stroll round the Yellow Canola Fields at Jin Ji Cun, it was only the next day that we got to view them from a higher elevation that you could see why this is a beautiful part of China. The viewpoint over yellow canola fields were totally mind blowing, and of course FREE to look at (only the transport there and back). Head to a viewpoint called 螺絲田. In English the rough translation or equivalent is Screw Tin.

I love China’s Yunnan Province, I’ve actually been there on three occasions now. If you only get time to see one part of China in your life, then make sure it’s Yunnan. Trust me on this – and I feel most travellers would agree Yunnan is the best. Not just places like Screw Tin, but check my posts on Xiaoqi, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shuhe, Yuanyang, Shangri La, Ganden Sumtseling Gompa and Shilin.

So after walking through the yellow canola fields at Jin Ji Cun, spending a night in the village itself and touring the epic Jiulong Waterfalls nearby, we got a local minibus out to a touristy viewing point, known as Screw Tin.

How do you get to Screw Tin Viewing Point?

This is extremely difficult to organise and while I’m glad to share these photos and this story with you, I must admit that it’s only thanks to my girlfriend Panny Yu that I went there. It’s not really an option for foreign tourists as it’s VERY difficult to get to, because of the language barrier. I’d estimate that no backpackers or foreigners EVER go here unless they are accompanied by Chinese speaking friends. You pay 2 RMB for a mini-bus from the town centre of Luoping and it takes you right up to the viewing point at Screw Tin. On my entire travels, this bus would probably the hardest bus to find, ever.

But after the bumpy bus ride it was worth it. The view from Screw Tin was stunning.

What happens at Screw Tin?

You look down over pretty yellow fields, endless and spectacular on the eye. In this remote part of China. There is of course nothing else to do when you get to Screw Tin but this view alone is enough for the hungry traveller. I loved it.

When to visit Screw Tin for this view?

OK so if you read my post on the yellow canola fields at Jin Ji Cun, you’ll know that these yellow flowers are only there in Springtime. This changes from year to year, but normally January to April. Outside of that time, you will see a nice view of course, but i just won’t be yellow!

 

Getting from Screw Tin back to Luoping

Then we realised the rush we were in, we had a ticket for a bus from Luoping all the way to Kunming. The bus was due to leave at exactly 3.45pm so we had to rush. We were still at Screw Tin looking for transport back when the clock struck 3.30 pm. My girlfriend luckily persuaded a local lady to drive us to the bus station in her car. It was a nervy drive to make it – slow trucks and lorries and lots of traffic and we finally arrived at Luoping at 3.49 pm – 4 minutes after the bus was supposed to have left.

Luck shone on us, and we were safely the last 2 passengers on our bus journey all the way to Kunming. If you do find yourself staying in Luoping then head to Screw Tin for a view – but be warned – it’s NOT EASY to find!

Videos from Screw Tin:

Bus out to Screw Tin:

Viewpoint over Yellow Canola Fields at Screw Tin, outstanding view:

In a rush to make it onto our bus:

We made it onto our bus in Luoping!: