Summer on West Lake means a sea of lotus leaves stretching to the horizon, with a subtle fragrance drifting on the air. In recent years, the pop variety “Yellow Dancing Princess” in the Huagang area has become a major draw for lotus lovers, and right now, it’s in full bloom near the Cuiyu Pavilion at Xili Lake, right by the Huagang Guanyu (Fish Viewing at Flower Harbor) scenic spot.

 “Yellow Dancing Princess” is a semi-double-petal cultivar, with petals that are light and graceful, soft and elegant. But if you want to catch that signature yellow hue, you’ll need to get there early—the flowers open yellow, but gradually fade to white as they mature, which is why many visitors mistake them for white lotuses.

Right next door, a stretch of pink lotuses is also putting on a show, mostly of the West Lake Red Lotus variety. As the old verse goes, “Lotus blooms red by the reedy shore,” and this is the most familiar species you’ll see around the lake. You can also spot them on the waters near Jiangzhuang and Xiaonanhu within the Huagang Guanyu area.

Beyond Quyuan Fenghe (Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan) and Huagang Guanyu, the lakefront along Su Causeway, as well as the waters of Maoxiang Shuqing and Wugui Tan (Turtle Pond), all offer prime lotus-viewing spots.

A friendly heads-up from the West Lake administration: summer brings out the mozzies, so be sure to pack your sunscreen and insect repellent before you head out.