West Lake Lotus Flowers Begin to Bloom, Peak Season Expected in Mid-July

In Hangzhou, summer is synonymous with the lotus flowers of West Lake. The season’s first official sighting came a few days ago when two red blossoms quietly unfurled side by side at Gushan, sending a wave of excitement across the city. Almost overnight, the question on everyone’s lips became: “just how open are the flowers now?”
As of June 14, the West Lake aquatic management office reported that the lake’s lotus blooms have entered their early flowering phase. Vast carpets of emerald leaves now stretch across the water, rising and falling in layered waves, while countless buds linger among them, poised to unfurl.
Currently, the most abundant blooms are concentrated in three prime spots: Quyuan Fenghe (Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Crooked Courtyard), Hou Gushan (Rear Solitary Hill), and Pinghu Qiuyue (Autumn Moon over Calm Lake). The Huangwufei variety is already showing color at Huagang Guanyu (Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor) lotus zone as well. Other areas—including the North Inner Lake shoreline, Broken Bridge, and Jixian Pavilion—are also putting on a pleasant display, with buds opening one after another.
In total, West Lake is home to 24 designated lotus zones, covering about 150 mu (roughly 25 acres), with the West Lake Red Lotus as the dominant species, complemented by lesser-known varieties such as Jiande Red Lotus and Huangwufei.
According to park staff, this year’s growth cycle and flowering schedule closely track those of previous years, with the plants remaining in steady condition. Early seasonal heat gave the flowers a developmental boost, while a recent cooldown has slightly tempered their pace—causing minor fluctuations in growth, but nothing outside manageable parameters.
The full bloom is projected to arrive by mid-July, when the entire lake will be awash with blossoms and heavy with fragrance. That, by all accounts, will be the peak window for visitors to experience Hangzhou’s quintessential summer spectacle.

Source：eng.hangzhou.gov.cn