By Rui Hu, EDITOR

Lotus flowers are in full bloom from June to August every year, when park attractions in the city will hold lotus festivals one after another for lotus-admiring. On July 20, Dazu District held a novel activity under the theme of “Ten Thousand Pots of Lotuses Witnessed by One Thousand People for Best Wishes to the Motherland,” to challenge the longest flower/plant line. Through official confirmation, the record of 3,630.21 meters (composed of ten thousand pots of lotuses) broke the previous one held by Japan, creating a new Guinness World Record. Therefore, the most recommended place to enjoy lotus flowers is Dazu.

 

Dazu Hongsheng Culture Plaza

On the Dazu Hongsheng Culture Plaza, more than 8,000 pots of lotuses put in the shape of Chinese character “fu” (“福,” literally meaning good fortune), together with the blue sky, white clouds, green hills, and clear waters set off each other, forming a colorful ecological picture. Citizens are immersed in the sea of flowers and bathing in lotus fragrance to experience the charm of lotus culture in Dazu. The lotus cultivation area has reached about 33.33 square kilometers with over 700 varieties in Dazu, making it a veritable Lotus Hometown of China.

Address: Dazu Hongsheng Culture Plaza

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Main urban area — Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway — Youting — Longshui

Huayan Temple, Jiulongpo District

Huayan Temple is a place near the central metropolitan area to enjoy lotuses. Every summer, lotuses here are like fairies in odd postures. Dancing in the breeze, they convey a sense of Zen.

Address: Dalao Mountain, Huayan Township, Jiulongpo District

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Take CRT Line 2 and get off at Dayancun Station, and transfer Bus No. 204 to Huayan Temple

Huxi Campus of Chongqing University

Lotuses at the Lovers’ Slope of the campus are picturesque. In the lake, there are swans and slim and graceful lotuses contending in beauty and fascination, and the delicate flowers are sucking the sunshine and rain. The faint fragrance wafting from the lotus pond can make visitors intoxicated and refreshed, and beautiful pictures can be taken from any angles. In addition, there are also lotuses in Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and Chongqing Normal University.

Address: Huxi Campus of Chongqing University, Chongqing University Town, Shapingba District

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Take CRT Line 1 and get off at Chongqing University Town, and walk or take a taxi to Chongqing University or Sichuan Fine Arts Institute

Nanshan Botanical Garden

Lotuses in Nanshan Botanical Garden are amazing enough to beautify the summer, including bowl lotuses and space lotuses. Some lotus leaves are even large enough to be used as small boats of children.

Besides lotuses, there are many other plants in Nanshan Botanical Garden. Moreover, many hot pot restaurants in South Mountain also grow lotuses. If visitors don’t want to buy tickets to the Garden, they can dine at a nearby hot pot restaurant. After eating, Yikeshu Viewing Platform is also an ideal place for enjoying the scenery.

Address: Nanshan Botanical Garden, Nan’an District

Ticket: RMB 45/person

Transportation: Take Bus No. 346/347/384 to Nanshan Botanical Garden

Heyun Park, Yunzhuan Mountain

Boasting lush plants, especially vivifying lotus, Heyun Park on Yunzhuan Mountain is ideal for enjoying lotus, reciting poems and tasting the liquor, which enchants tourists with pleasant scenery.

On the Yunzhuan Mountain, tourists can immerse themselves in luxuriant trees, clear lake, the gate of an ancient village, Yunzhuan Temple, a woodcut of the old courtyard and other historical sites, as well as climb the mountain to relax both their body and mind.

Address: Yunzhuan Mountain Scenic Area, Ba’nan District

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Take Bus No. 303/308/898/858 or CRT Line 3 to Yudong and then take a shuttle bus to Yunzhuan Mountain

Bijin Park

At the two lotus ponds in Bijin Park, green lotus leaves sway with shining sweet dew, along with rippling water waves.

Address: Lianglu City Center, Yubei District

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Take CRT Line 3 to Bijin Station and then walk about 100 meters

Ailianhu Wetland Park, Tongliang

Ailianhu Wetland Park in Tongliang is currently the most extensive ecological lotus wetland garden with the largest planting scale and a tremendous variety in southwest China.

Address: Tuqiao Town, Tongliang

Ticket: RMB 30/person

Transportation: Main City — Suining-Chongqing Expressway — exit at Tongliang Interchange — Longteng Avenue — Bailong Avenue — Yingbin Road East — Tongda Road — Tuqiao

Yameijia Wetland Park, Dazu

Yameijia Wetland Park covers a vast area in Dazu is large enough to boast plenty of lotus ponds with large green lotus leaves is recommended for taking a holiday, which provides tourists with gorgeous summer scenery.

In addition to fragrant and heat-clearing lotus rice as well as spicy and fresh fish with lotus, the Lotus Feast here is tasty and appealing. A large area of canna has also blossomed.

Address: Longshui Town, Dazu

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Main City — Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway — Youting — Longshui — Longtang Artery (Zhifeng Intersection)

Shi Li He Xiang, Huanggua Mountain

Shi Li He Xiang features more than 200 kinds of colorful lotuses and water lilies at home and abroad, which cover an area of nearly 0.7 square kilometers. All of them are in full bloom now, along with spider flowers, verbenas, and other flowers.

Address: Bajiao Temple, Huanggua Mountain, Yongchuan

Ticket: RMB 20/person

Transportation: Main City — Chongqing-Kunming Expressway/3rd Ring Road Expressway — No. 433 County-level Road —Shi Li He Xiang

Citrus Home and Lotus Sea, Zhongxian County

Situated beside green hills and clear waters, it has citrus, and lotus spread all over, with a large area of immense green leaves in the lake. Tourists can immerse themselves in splendid view while strolling along the ridge of the field.

Address: Shiqiao Village, Shuanggui Town, Zhongxian County

Ticket: Free

Transportation: Main City — Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway — Dianjiang — Chongqing-Yichang Expressway — exit at Xinli Town — Sanchawan — Citrus Home and Lotus Sea

Source: CQCB
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