Besides enjoying the lotus views, visitors can also get to know how to plant water lilies, guided by experts. Every weekend there are performances including classic music played on pipa and guzheng (both are Chinese plucked instruments). Special lotus ikebana shows are also held.

Location: Lianhuachi (Lotus Flower Pond) Park, northeast of Liuliqiao, West 3rd Ring Road, Fengtai District.
Ticket: 6 yuan.
Tel: 010-63972892

Old Summer Palace

If taking a boat and plucking water chestnuts among the lotuses sounds appealing, the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan, pictured above and right) is a must-do for summer. A lotus festival has been in full swing since June 28, celebrating the blooms on Beijing's most spacious lake. The festival will run until mid-October.

Tourists can also enjoy delicious food, all made with lotus, including lotus root juice (5 yuan a cup), lotus congee (2 yuan a bowl), lotus seed soup (5 yuan a bowl) and lotus tea (30 yuan a cup). A special lotus banquet is also provided, but booking one day in advance is required.

Location: Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) Park, Haidian District.
Tel: 010-6262-8501
Ticket: 10 yuan. 

Beihai Park

As a former imperial park, Beihai Park was well-known for the beautiful scenery of lilies 1,000 years ago. A lotus show is now on, which will run until August 10. A total of 3,000 potted lotus of different kinds are in full blossom. The most precious is a kind of soil-less cultured lotus planted in small bowls, with flowers only about a fist big.

Location: Beihai Park, l Wenjin Jie, Xicheng District.
Tel: 010-6403-3225.
Ticket: 10 yuan.

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