If you think that only cactuses grow in the desert, then think again! Over in South Africa, tourists are flocking to a region of Namaqueland to witness the phenomenon of over a thousand different breeds of flowers blooming in the desert.

A desert has been transformed into a wonderland carpeted with wildflowers.

This marvelous spectacle appears in the Namaqueland area in Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Located in the northwest part of South Africa and with the Atlantic Ocean in the west, Namaqueland is an arid region.

However, every year from August to September, the desert becomes a sea of flowers as the springtime comes.

"It was nice to see the flowers bloom, but after a few months you'll see the same place turns completely dry. You won't believe it if you take pictures before and after. It's unbelievable that the nature can do such a thing," said Dammy Moreira, local resident.

"The flower is a big thing in this part of the world as we are in a desert here. You got the sea on the one side and the desert on this side. And it really once a year it around about Aug to Sep, the flowers start to blooming and all the colors of the rainbow, it's beautiful. It actually transforms the whole countryside for like a month, and it actually like a drug for the local people, it really transforms the people: they became alive, they became joys and happy and all. And as fast as it came, as fast as it disappears again just like it. It's totally depend on the atmosphere conditions, it needed like a good rain and super hot wind, after that, we call it the east wind or the berg wind and that causes it to come out," said George Moyses, local resident.

There are more than 4,000 plant species in Namaqueland, where around 1,000 species are found nowhere else on earth. And there are still more and more new species being discovered by botanists.

Blue fleur-de-lis, golden lily, yellow and red daisies and other wildflowers are in full bloom between grit and stones. One might never imagine that the soil in this area could nourish such beautiful flowers.

And tourists from all around the world have come to see them.

"I came from Chengdu, Sichuan, and I have more than ten travel buddies with me. We are travelling in South Africa and we knew from the internet that there is an amazing view of a sea of flowers in Namaqueland. We went there yesterday and all of us were amazed by the flowers blooming all over the area," said Chinese tourist Chen Juncai.

"I posted the flower pictures to my WeChat moments, and wow! I got several likes in just a minute," said Chinese tourist Chen Aiguo.

Conservation International has placed the region as the only biodiversity arid area, and listed Namaqueland as one of the 25 most valuable ecology areas.