West Lake, a pearl in Hangzhou’s heavenly earth, features different scenes in different seasons and in summer, the best scene to sprout out is that of the lotus flower. When the time comes, a stretch of lotus flowers can be seen lining the lakes borders and as they sway in the breeze they add cool and charm to the city’s most sweltering summer days. As early as the Song and Tang Dynasties, viewing lotus flowers had already become a classic pastime for ancient scholars. As lotus flowers’ emerge from the mud unstained they were often the eternal theme for many literal works.

This summer, Hangzhou will once again set the scene and with a sea of lotus in full bloom will become the perfect backdrop to a city growing in charm and beauty. 


The following places are the best places to view the lotus flowers.

Broken Bridge

Among all the places to view lotus flowers, the Broken Bridge is the most crowded. At any time of the day the bridge is packed with people, partly because of their craving for the beautiful story of the White Snake and Xu Xian and partly because it is a stepping stone to Bai Causeway, Su Causeway and Solitary Hill. With many lotus flowers breezing us through Hangzhou’s history and love stories this is definitely a scene not to be missed.

Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake

Listed as one of the ‘Top Ten Views of West Lake’, Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake faces the outer lake of West Lake and is backed by Solitary Hill. Viewing West Lake at night, as the moon hangs gracefully in the sky, is second to none and now with lotus flowers in full bloom and its fragrance filling the air, the experience is even more romantic. What is worth mentioning is that here the lotus flower planting area is the largest in West Lake.

Beishan Road

Beishan Road has always been well known for its 1920s historical buildings, each with its unique architectural style and mysterious story lying behind. This road is a perfect backdrop for the pool of reddish lotus flowers and the view is even more splendid at night when Beishan Road and lotus flowers are illuminated by a spectrum of colourful lights.

Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden

In Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden, also one of the ‘Top Ten Views of West Lake’, visitors can either walk along the zigzag bridge winding inside the pool of the gardens or view the lotus flowers at a distance from the Kuahong Bridge (跨虹桥). Sitting leisurely inside Zhanbi Tower (湛碧楼) and savouring Hangzhou delicacies and sipping a cup of Longjing Green Tea is also a pleasant way to admire these most spectacular flowers.