Enjoy lotus season at Honghu Park

Shenzhen's beloved summer tradition is back. The annual lotus festival at Honghu Park in Luohu District will open Friday and runs through July 12, offering a full month of immersive lotus viewing. This year’s event brings together cultural activities, artistic installations, tech innovation, and refreshed shopping and lifestyle experiences.

Visitors appreciate lotus flowers at Honghu Park in Luohu District. Photos by Liu Xudong

With more than 30 years of lotus cultivation, Honghu Park is home to the city’s largest urban lotus pond — an expansive 170,000-sqm water garden where over 1 million flowers are expected to bloom at peak season. The park features more than 700 lotus varieties, including rare imports from other countries, remarkable “space lotuses,” and ancient lotuses grown from thousand-year-old seeds.

Lotus flowers are in full bloom at Honghu Park.

Enter through the east gate and you’ll be greeted by Lianxiang Lake and Jingyi Lake, smoothly connected by a winding wooden bridge — ideal for close-up, water-level photos. For a sweeping view, head to the main pavilion area, where three pavilions — Furong, Liuxia, and Chenxi — create a scenic sequence. Climb to any second floor to enjoy a living “green-leaf canvas” dotted with crimson and white lotus blooms.

Must-visit spots 

Lianxiang Lake

Walk straight through the heart of the lotus ponds, where exceptional varieties are within easy reach. Go early in the morning when light mist drifts over the water — the atmosphere is wonderfully dreamy.

Jingyi Lake

Designed with built-in misting effects, this area feels like an ethereal fairyland. At night, soft lighting transforms the scene into an immersive lotus-moon fantasy.

Ailian Bridge & Arch Bridge

White bridges framed by emerald lotus leaves — perfect for classic, ancient-style photography. Try a flowing Hanfu or a light-colored dress, and every shot looks like a magazine cover.

Pinhe Garden

A curated showcase of the park’s finest lotus collections, featuring rare space-bred varieties and ancient blooms. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the auspicious twin lotus (并蒂莲) — a seasonal highlight that appears only once in a while.

Tips

● Admission to the lotus festival is free.

● Best time to visit: 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. when lotus flowers are fully open and the light is soft and golden. In the afternoon, many blooms close, so it’s best to skip that time.

● Bring mosquito repellent and a sun hat. Summer by the lakeside is beautiful — but lively with insects.

● Please do not pick lotus flowers or seed pods. Let everyone share the beauty.

Getting there

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