"This isn't the Netherlands? It's actually Henan province!"

“这里不是荷兰，这里是河南？”

At first glance, one might mistake this for a postcard from Kukkenhof Park in the Netherlands.

如果不说，你或许会以为这是一张从荷兰库肯霍夫公园寄出的明信片。

The vibrant colors spread across the mountains like a painter's palette in the canyons of the Taihang Mountains—red as flames, yellow as gold, and pink as the morning glow. While it might resemble the Netherlands at 52 degrees north latitude, this brilliant scene is actually the Baoquan Tourist Area in Henan province at 35 degrees north latitude.

漫山遍野的色彩如调色盘般在太行山的峡谷中铺陈开来，红如烈火，黄似鎏金，粉若朝霞。这里不是北纬52度的荷兰，而是北纬35度的河南宝泉。

Some say this is a "pinyin pun" that spans half the globe—You're Helan(the Netherlands), I'm Henan, and your national flower shines in my land.

有人说，这是一场跨越半个地球的“谐音梗”——你是荷兰，我是河南，你的国花，在俺的老家开得很灿烂。

This is not just a simple joke. From 2016 to 2026, the Baoquan Tulip Festival has been held for eleven years in the heart of the Taihang Mountains. This decade has witnessed the blooming of 2 million tulips and marked a transformation in Henan's cultural tourism—from mere sightseeing to a thriving industry, and from following trends to leading the way. When the Netherlands' national flower takes center stage in Henan's mountains, we see not only the beauty of spring but also a "China's story" about technological breakthroughs, rural prosperity, and cultural confidence.

这不是一句简单的玩笑。从2016年到2026年，宝泉郁金香踏青赏花节在太行深处扎根十一载。这十年，不仅是200万株郁金香的盛放史，更是河南文旅从“观光”向“产业”、从“跟跑”向“领跑”的进阶史。当荷兰的国花在河南的山地里“反客为主”，我们看到的不仅是春色，更是一个关于技术突围、乡村共富与文化自信的“中国故事”。

The "Tulip Chip War" on the Taihang Mountains: Beyond Grain, Henan Can Produce "International-standard" Tulips

太行山上的“郁金香芯片战”：河南不仅能种粮，还能种出“国际范”

What enables Baoquan's tulips to achieve "early blooming, prolonged flowering periods, and diverse shapes"? Behind this success lies an "invisible battle" in agricultural technology.

为何宝泉的郁金香能做到“花开早、花期长、造型多”？这背后是一场关于农业科技的“隐形战争”。

According to researchers, the "hometown" of tulips is ancient China's Western Regions, roughly today's Tianshan Mountains, Pamir Plateau, and parts of Central Asia in Xinjiang. It is believed that Xinjiang is the "gene homeland" of tulips, the Mediterranean coast and Turkey serve as their "early cradles" for global dissemination, and the Netherlands is their "super fan" and "key promoter".

据相关农业科学研究的工作人员介绍，郁金香的“籍贯”是中国古代西域，也就是新疆的天山山脉、帕米尔高原以及部分中亚地区。可以说中国新疆是郁金香的“基因祖地”；而地中海沿岸与土耳其则是它走向世界的“早期摇篮”；而荷兰，它是郁金香的“超级粉丝”和“终极推手”。

However, the Baoquan Tourist Area did not opt for a simplistic "copy-paste approach"; instead, it executed an impressive turnaround by strategically planting bulbs.

但在河南宝泉，景区没有选择简单的“拿来主义”，而是打了一场漂亮的“种球翻身仗”。

A decade ago, Baoquan introduced premium tulip bulbs from Shandong province with expert guidance. Today, two dedicated tulip cultivation bases have been established, achieving self-sufficiency in bulb selection, greenhouse seedling cultivation, and open-field planting. This reflects not only an "introduction," but also a process of "digestion" and "transcendence." Leveraging the unique microclimate of the Taihang Mountains, Baoquan uses precise temperature control, staggered cultivation schedules, and batch planting techniques to ensure tulips bloom earlier than wild flowers and display greater diversity than those in the plains.

十年前，宝泉从山东引进优质荷兰种球，特邀专家指导；十年后，这里已经建成了两大专属郁金香种植基地，实现了种球选育、温室育苗、露天栽培的全流程自主化。这不仅是“引进”，更是“消化”与“超越”。依托太行山独特的小气候，宝泉通过精准控温、错时培育、分批种植，让郁金香比山间野花更早绽放，比平原花海更具层次。

This evolution embodies the character of Henan people: beneath their honest and straightforward exterior lies an indomitable spirit of determination. When Baoquan's technical team overcame the challenges of cultivating tulips in mountainous regions, Henan transformed from merely a "consumer market" for tulips into a "production hub" for high-quality varieties.

这像极了河南人的性格：憨厚外表下，藏着一股“不服输”的钻劲。当宝泉的技术团队攻克了山地郁金香种植的难题，河南便不再只是郁金香的“消费市场”，而成为了高品质山地郁金香的“生产高地”。

Tulips in Henan: Geographic Spread and Zhengzhou Residents' Affection

全域花开：河南郁金香的“版图”与郑州人的“情怀”

Baoquan is not the only place growing tulips. Across Henan province, an "industrial integration" centered around tulips is taking shape.

宝泉并不孤单。在中原大地上，一场关于郁金香的“产业一体化”正在悄然成型。

To the south, the tulips of West Jiuhuashan Mountain embody the poetic charm of southern Henan, beautifully complementing the tea fields and bamboo groves. To the east, the tulips at Chaya Mountain display their vibrant colors against the backdrop of rugged rock formations. In Zhengzhou, the capital city, the tulips in Green Expo Park symbolize urban sophistication and represent the pinnacle of garden artistry.

向南看，西九华山的郁金香带着豫南的灵秀，与茶山竹海相映成趣；向东看，嵖岈山的郁金香在怪石嶙峋间展现着奇幻色彩；在省会郑州，绿博园的郁金香则代表着城市的精致与园林艺术的巅峰。

Zhengzhou Green Expo Park

The memories of longtime Zhengzhou residents hold a special place for Zhengzhou People's Park. While its tulips may not match the grandeur of Baoquan or the elegance of Green Expo Park, they bring back cherished memories of spring for generations. These flowers serve as a backdrop for seniors' morning exercises, witness romantic dates, and embody the most down-to-earth romance in the city.

甚至不需要走远，老郑州人的记忆里，永远留着人民公园的一席之地。那里的郁金香，或许没有宝泉的规模，也没有绿博园的精致，但它承载了几代郑州人的春日情怀。那是老人们晨练时的背景板，是情侣们约会的见证者，是这座城市最接地气的浪漫。

Zhengzhou People's Park

From the "mountain characteristics" of Baoquan to the "urban memory" of Zhengzhou People's Park, Henan's tulip industry has developed a mature model characterized by "scenic area-driven development, comprehensive regional layout, and public sharing." It goes beyond a simple flower-viewing economy, creating a complete industrial chain that includes cultivation, research and development, tourism, and cultural innovation.

从宝泉的“山地特色”到人民公园的“城市记忆”，河南的郁金香产业已经形成了“景区带动+全域布局+全民共享”的成熟模式。这不再是单一的赏花经济，而是一条涵盖种植、研发、旅游、文创的完整产业链。

Global Vision: Henan's "Spring Invitation" to the World

世界格局：当河南向世界发出“春日邀请函”

Why does Henan attach such great importance to the tulips in Baoquan?

我们为什么如此看重宝泉的郁金香？

Because it symbolizes the openness of Henan's culture and tourism, encouraging both Chinese visitors to explore the region and foreigners to experience a vibrant, culturally confident Henan.

因为它代表了河南文旅的开放：不仅要让中国人来“行走河南，读懂中国”，更要让世界看到一个文化自信、外向开放、充满活力的河南。

In the Taihang Mountains of Henan, the Netherlands' national flower blooms earlier and lasts longer than it does in its native habitat, signaling that Henan has the potential to develop world-class tourism products, leverage technology to enhance traditional agriculture, and transform "lucid waters and lush mountains" into "invaluable assets."

当荷兰的国花在河南的太行山上开得比原产地更早、更艳、更久，这本身就是一种无声的宣言：河南有能力打造世界级的旅游产品，有能力用科技赋能传统农业，有能力将“绿水青山”转化为“金山银山”。

The tulips of Baoquan represent Henan's "spring invitation" to the world, showcasing both the elegance of peonies and the vibrancy of tulips. Henan has nurtured not only the roots of Chinese civilization but also the tulips that connect the world in the new era.

宝泉的郁金香，是河南给世界的一张“春日邀请函”。它告诉世界，这里的春天不只有牡丹的雍容，更有郁金香的热烈；这里的土地不仅孕育了华夏文明的根脉，更在新时代长出了连接世界的花朵。

[Reporter's Note] 

【记者寄语】

The March breeze blows over the Taihang Mountains, bringing the fragrance of tulips and hopes for national prosperity and people's well-being.

三月的风吹过太行，带着郁金香的芬芳，也带着“国泰民安”的期许。

The "pinyin pun" mentioned at the opening not only celebrates the blooming of tulips but also showcases cultural confidence and industrial strength. From the emergence of a single bulb to the rise of a scenic area and the overseas promotion of tourism, the Baoquan Tulip Festival tells an inspiring story of "Chinese tulips spreading across the world."

河南“喊话”荷兰，喊出的不仅是花开的喜悦，更是一种文化自信与产业底气。从一粒种球的破土，到一个景区的崛起，再到一个省份的文旅出海，宝泉郁金香踏青赏花节，正以花为媒，讲述着一个关于“中国郁金香，香飘全世界”的崭新故事。

This spring, you don't have to travel far to Europe for tulips, as the most gorgeous ones are right here on this vibrant land beneath our feet.

这个春天，不必远赴欧洲。因为最美的郁金香，就在河南，就在宝泉，就在你我脚下这片热辣滚烫的土地上。

Welcome to Henan! Come admire the tulips and discover the beauty of spring in China.

来河南，看荷兰的花，读懂中国的春。(Source: Dahe Daily, Reporter:  Wang Yonglu, English Proofreader: Ding Lan)

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Tong Lin