Lavender essential oil processing factory in China's Xinjiang

A worker processes lavender flowers to make essential oil at a lavender processing factory in Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 16, 2015. Here is a traditional lavender processing factory with its ancient practice. Dozens of giant steamers keep working day and night to distill essential oil. Air of over 50 degree Centigrade mixes with humid steam and strong fragrance of lavender. Workers in the plant always pay close attention to the working, which is in directly relation to the income in the harvest season. Reputed as "China's Lavender Town", the Ili River Valley of Xinjiang now owns a total planting area of 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares) of lavender and produces 95 percent of the country's lavender-related products. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)