Over 17,000 hectares of wild fruit forests are in full bloon in Ili Valley, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Every late April to early May, survivors of the Quaternary glaciation 2 million years ago paint the mountains in pink and white. The ancient woodland also houses wild apricots, wild walnuts and wild hawthorns, holding nearly 40% of the world's total wild fruit forest area. Drones are now used for pest control and habitat restoration to protect this precious genetic treasure.
