After a year-long wait, West Lake’s lotus leaves and seed pods are back—right on schedule. This morning, the “Love at West Lake · Blessings from the Lotus” charity sale set up shop once again at the Smile Pavilion in Liulang Wenying (Orioles Singing in the Willows). For many Hangzhou locals, this annual sale has become a beloved summer ritual—a chance to bring home a hint of the lake’s lotus-scented charm while also passing on a little warmth to those in need.

The leaves and seed pods on sale arrive fresh with morning dew, still carrying that unmistakable fragrance. To preserve their freshness and beauty, the lake’s lotus harvesters start working as early as 4:00 AM, carefully picking each one by hand and rushing them straight to the Smile Pavilion. It’s West Lake’s very own “summer gift of love,” delivered at its most vibrant and fragrant.

The sale follows the same long-standing rules as previous years: each “Blessings from the Lotus” bundle includes three seed pods and five lotus leaves, priced at 10 yuan per pack, with a limit of one per customer—while supplies last.

Running from 12 August onward, the sale takes place Monday through Friday, with numbered queue tickets handed out at 7:00 AM at the Smile Pavilion in Liulang Wenying. Buyers can then purchase their bundles between 8:30 and 9:00 AM by presenting their ticket—after that, the ticket expires. Payment can be made in cash or via the Alipay app. The sale is suspended on rainy days and weekends.

Due to the recent typhoon and days of overcast weather, some lotus leaves may have minor spots, so they may not look picture-perfect. Also, since West Lake’s lotuses are primarily ornamental rather than the seed-producing variety grown for food, the yield of seed pods is far lower than that of dedicated “seed lotus” farms. As a result, the daily supply will vary depending on weather conditions and the plants’ health—so visitors are kindly asked to keep that in mind.

The park authority also reminds visitors to plan their trip according to their own schedule, take precautions against the summer heat, and line up in an orderly and civil manner. All proceeds from the charity sale will be donated in full to charitable organizations.