A view of the Liuxia Pavilion from a distance.

Summer is never truly complete without the sight of pink, white, and red lotus blossoms peeking out from endless expanses of fresh green leaves, their elegant fragrance mingling with the morning mist over the lake.

Early lotus blossoms are seen at Honghu Lake Park.

That’s why a visit to Honghu Lake Park in Luohu District is a must. Running until July 12, the annual lotus season transforms the park into a vibrant hub of cultural activities, artistic installations, and refreshed lifestyle experiences.

White lotus flowers are pure and elegant.

With more than 30 years of lotus cultivation experience, Honghu Lake Park boasts the city’s largest lotus ponds. From south to north lie Honghu Lake, Jingyi Lake, and Lianxiang Lake — together forming an expansive 266,000-square-meter aquatic garden where over one million blooms peak in season. The park features more than 700 lotus varieties, including rare imports from Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States, alongside remarkable “space lotuses” and ancient blooms grown from 1,000-year-old seeds.

A map of Honghu Lake Park.

Pond herons are seen on the lake at Honghu Park.

Enter through the east gate, and you’ll be greeted by Lianxiang Lake and Jingyi Lake, linked by a winding wooden bridge that’s perfect for close-up, water-level shots. Here, red and white blossoms stand out against the backdrop of a Lingnan-style garden, offering the season’s earliest blooms.

For a sweeping panoramic view, head to the largest lake, Honghu Lake, where three pavilions — Furong, Liuxia, and Chenxi — form a scenic vista. Climb to their second floors to gaze upon a living canvas of green leaves dotted with crimson and white lotus flowers. Bring a pair of binoculars for a chance to spot egrets hunting for prey or pond herons perched among the leaves.

At Pinhe Garden in the west, visitors can enjoy a curated showcase of the park’s finest lotus collections, featuring rare space-bred varieties and ancient blooms. This year’s highlights also include artistic installations crafted from bamboo and metal, inspired by the lotus form. Lucky visitors who spot the auspicious twin lotus can snap photos in exchange for souvenirs, while photography enthusiasts can join the park’s photo competition. Additionally, a cultural fair invites guests to bring their own DIY planting containers for water lilies.

The park will also host slacklining performances — often described as “ballet on a rope” — around lunch and dinner time on weekends and public holidays.

Tips

Best time to visit: 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. when lotus flowers are fully open and the light is soft.

Bring mosquito repellent, a hat or parasol, and apply sunscreen. Summer by the lakeside is beautiful, but lively with insects.

For your own safety, please do not try to pick lotus flowers or seed pods.

Metro: Line 3 to Shuibei Station (水贝站) or Tianbei Station (田贝站); or Line 7 to Honghu Station (洪湖站)