As summer fades into autumn, water lily enthusiasts are encouraged to visit Shanghai's Chenshan Botanic Garden during the remaining weeks of bloom.
The botanical garden, located in the Sheshan National Tourist Resort, has been holding the popular water lily exposition since Aug 18 and visitors can enjoy the sights and smells of 260 varieties of the water-based flowering plant.
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More than 260 kinds of water lilies, including the popular Nymphaea 'William McLane', Nymphaea 'Angela', Nymphaea 'Deva', and Nymphaea 'Siam Beauty', are displayed at Chenshan Botanical Garden from Aug 18 to Sept 18. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
It is hoped that the exhibition, covering an impressive 12,000-square-meters, will help to educate the general public about this much romanticized plant in areas of scientific classification and cultural symbolism.
The plant that thrives in tranquil bodies of water has long held a strong symbolic importance in traditional Chinese culture. For instance, many poets have portrayed the lotus plant as signifying purity, honesty, and integrity.
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A child sits for a photo on a specially designed water. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
But Chenshan Botanical Garden offers more than simply pretty flowers to those that make the worthwhile journey. Families can test out their teamwork in a challenging water lily scavenger hunt, gardening aficionados can attend engaging lectures on horticulture, children can try some freehand drawing, and music lovers can enjoy nightly violin concerts.
Tickets for the Chenshan Botanical Garden are 60 yuan ($9). A half price discount will be offered from Sept 10 to 16 in celebration of the Shanghai Tourism Festival. The garden opens at 8 am and closes at 5.30 pm.
