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Lotus locations blossom with beauty
By Xu Wenwen |
July 25, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LOTUSES are in full bloom during the summer and in Hangzhou, pure pink buds and blossoms are welcoming visitors to the prestigious West Lake and some of its surrounding attractions.
From now until September is the flowering season of the lotus, which has long been a major part of Chinese culture - since it grows in mud but blossoms into a lovely flower, it is recognized as the incarnation of beauty and purity, as well as honesty and persistence.
In Hangzhou where water is its blood, the aquatic lotus highlights the city's fascination in the hot season, and it's a tradition of thousands of years at the West Lake to cultivate the plant, which cannot only be appreciated for its beauty but also be used as food and medicine.
Hangzhou Tourism Commission recently drafted a map recommending renowned spots to appreciate lotus in and around the city, so Shanghai Daily took a look.
Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard(Qu Yuan Feng He Park)
Surely the best spot to enjoy the summer lotus is the renowned park and one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake - Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard.
The park nestled at the northwest of the lake boasts tens of lotus ponds of different sizes and varieties.
Beside the common pink variety there are white lotus, red lotus, water lilies and odd lotuses such as Bingdilian (characterized by two flowers on one stalk).
The attraction of appreciating lotus here is that visitors can not only stand at the lake or pondside to take pictures of the flowers, they also can immerse themselves into the lotus world by wandering on the bridges over lotus ponds in the park.
Visitors can also overlook the whole park's lotuses from the high vantage point of Yinxun Pavilion where a breeze of delicate fragrance of flowers can be scented.
No. 1 Park
No. 1 Park is quite accessible as it is located at the crossing of Nanshan Road and Hubin Road. It is the city's largest lotus area covering around 1,000 square meters, making the park one of the best spots to appreciate the plant.
Situated at the east side of the West Lake, the area features landscapes containing much more than lotus, such as the water, laser and music spectacular of the nearby Music Fountain and adjacent Hubin International Boutique Compound that provides a chance for luxurious consumption.
Flower Garden (Hua Pu)
The garden near famous tea production area Longjing Village is opposite the Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard. Its lotus area covers 760 square meters and connects part of Guo Manor, an ancient villa.
As its name suggests, lotus is only one kind of flowers found in the garden, which also features bonsai trees and plants of more than 3,500 varieties, creating a fragrant and cool atmosphere.
Beishan Road
Phoenix trees and lotus fields symbolize Beishan Road extending along the north side of the West Lake.
Right now the flowers in the lake are blossoming at full extent, while phoenix trees along the two sides are growing luxuriantly. So a walk, bike ride or slow drive along this road will allow visitors a pleasant view of high green trees and low pink flowers.
The lotus areas dot Beishan Road at Broken Bridge, the spot opposite Xinxin Restaurant and West Lake Expo Museum (HiCenter).
It is also recommended to appreciate lotus on Bai Causeway winding from Xiling Bridge to Broken Bridge, which, coupled with Beishan Road, circle the lotus area.
Since last year, even in winter, the withered plants in this part are preserved rather than being cut as they outline scenery of solemn beauty.
A classic route to appreciate the lotus area in the West Lake is from Broken Bridge to Bai Causeway to Xiling Bridge to Beishan Road, and then continuing around the lake. One can take bus No. 7 or No. 27 to go along this route.
Yuhang District
Lotus areas in the suburbs are more like the old lotus fields where lotus flowers are treated as crops.
In Tai Chi Flower Field one can experience the pleasure of farming and enjoying flowers, as the field's yang side functions as a farm, while the yin side is a lake for lotuses and water lilies.
Pipa Bay Farm, also located in the district, provides a unique tour where visitors can pluck lotus seedpods, have a lotus banquet and enjoy a cup of tea in a teahouse overlooking the lotus pond.
? Tai Chi Flower Field
Tel: (0571) 8863-3688
? Pipa Bay
Tel: (0571) 8631-6702
Xiaoshan District
Xiang Lake in Xiaoshan has a history of 8,000 years, and it boasts a Lotus Manor that covers 3,460 square meters at the east side of the lake, home to six varieties of lotus in red, pink, white and purple.
Local travel agencies provide a one-day tour package which includes a tour of the Lotus Manor, antique streets, museums and quaint houses, priced at 35 yuan (US$5.42) per person.
Tel: (0571) 8236-0666/8236-0128
From now until September is the flowering season of the lotus, which has long been a major part of Chinese culture - since it grows in mud but blossoms into a lovely flower, it is recognized as the incarnation of beauty and purity, as well as honesty and persistence.
In Hangzhou where water is its blood, the aquatic lotus highlights the city's fascination in the hot season, and it's a tradition of thousands of years at the West Lake to cultivate the plant, which cannot only be appreciated for its beauty but also be used as food and medicine.
Hangzhou Tourism Commission recently drafted a map recommending renowned spots to appreciate lotus in and around the city, so Shanghai Daily took a look.
Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard(Qu Yuan Feng He Park)
Surely the best spot to enjoy the summer lotus is the renowned park and one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake - Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard.
The park nestled at the northwest of the lake boasts tens of lotus ponds of different sizes and varieties.
Beside the common pink variety there are white lotus, red lotus, water lilies and odd lotuses such as Bingdilian (characterized by two flowers on one stalk).
The attraction of appreciating lotus here is that visitors can not only stand at the lake or pondside to take pictures of the flowers, they also can immerse themselves into the lotus world by wandering on the bridges over lotus ponds in the park.
Visitors can also overlook the whole park's lotuses from the high vantage point of Yinxun Pavilion where a breeze of delicate fragrance of flowers can be scented.
No. 1 Park
No. 1 Park is quite accessible as it is located at the crossing of Nanshan Road and Hubin Road. It is the city's largest lotus area covering around 1,000 square meters, making the park one of the best spots to appreciate the plant.
Situated at the east side of the West Lake, the area features landscapes containing much more than lotus, such as the water, laser and music spectacular of the nearby Music Fountain and adjacent Hubin International Boutique Compound that provides a chance for luxurious consumption.
Flower Garden (Hua Pu)
The garden near famous tea production area Longjing Village is opposite the Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard. Its lotus area covers 760 square meters and connects part of Guo Manor, an ancient villa.
As its name suggests, lotus is only one kind of flowers found in the garden, which also features bonsai trees and plants of more than 3,500 varieties, creating a fragrant and cool atmosphere.
Beishan Road
Phoenix trees and lotus fields symbolize Beishan Road extending along the north side of the West Lake.
Right now the flowers in the lake are blossoming at full extent, while phoenix trees along the two sides are growing luxuriantly. So a walk, bike ride or slow drive along this road will allow visitors a pleasant view of high green trees and low pink flowers.
The lotus areas dot Beishan Road at Broken Bridge, the spot opposite Xinxin Restaurant and West Lake Expo Museum (HiCenter).
It is also recommended to appreciate lotus on Bai Causeway winding from Xiling Bridge to Broken Bridge, which, coupled with Beishan Road, circle the lotus area.
Since last year, even in winter, the withered plants in this part are preserved rather than being cut as they outline scenery of solemn beauty.
A classic route to appreciate the lotus area in the West Lake is from Broken Bridge to Bai Causeway to Xiling Bridge to Beishan Road, and then continuing around the lake. One can take bus No. 7 or No. 27 to go along this route.
Yuhang District
Lotus areas in the suburbs are more like the old lotus fields where lotus flowers are treated as crops.
In Tai Chi Flower Field one can experience the pleasure of farming and enjoying flowers, as the field's yang side functions as a farm, while the yin side is a lake for lotuses and water lilies.
Pipa Bay Farm, also located in the district, provides a unique tour where visitors can pluck lotus seedpods, have a lotus banquet and enjoy a cup of tea in a teahouse overlooking the lotus pond.
? Tai Chi Flower Field
Tel: (0571) 8863-3688
? Pipa Bay
Tel: (0571) 8631-6702
Xiaoshan District
Xiang Lake in Xiaoshan has a history of 8,000 years, and it boasts a Lotus Manor that covers 3,460 square meters at the east side of the lake, home to six varieties of lotus in red, pink, white and purple.
Local travel agencies provide a one-day tour package which includes a tour of the Lotus Manor, antique streets, museums and quaint houses, priced at 35 yuan (US$5.42) per person.
Tel: (0571) 8236-0666/8236-0128
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