'First flower of spring' blooms in Xinjiang

Wild lilies, also known as the top ice flowers, the first flower of spring in Xinjiang bloom on a meadow at an altitude of 1,200 meters to 3,000 meters, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (China News Service/Gong Xinyu)

These flowers usually appear as the snow on the mountains thaws, and locals say they signal the end of winter. The flowering period lasts for 7-10 days.

Wild lilies, also known as the top ice flowers, the first flower of spring in Xinjiang bloom on a meadow at an altitude of 1,200 meters to 3,000 meters, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (China News Service/Gong Xinyu)

Wild lilies, also known as the top ice flowers, the first flower of spring in Xinjiang bloom on a meadow at an altitude of 1,200 meters to 3,000 meters, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (China News Service/Gong Xinyu)

Wild lilies, also known as the top ice flowers, the first flower of spring in Xinjiang bloom on a meadow at an altitude of 1,200 meters to 3,000 meters, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (China News Service/Gong Xinyu)

Wild lilies, also known as the top ice flowers, the first flower of spring in Xinjiang bloom on a meadow at an altitude of 1,200 meters to 3,000 meters, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (China News Service/Gong Xinyu)