As late June arrives, lotus flowers begin to bloom across Shanghai's parks and waterways, bringing tranquility and seasonal charm to the city.

From classical gardens to urban wetlands, pink and white blossoms rise above lush green leaves, creating some of Shanghai's most picturesque summer scenes.

Gucun Park

Gucun Park features more than 20 hectares of lotus-covered water, with 28 varieties blooming in succession through September. Pink blossoms rise above an expanse of green leaves, creating one of the park's signature summer views. Visitors can also take a boat through the lotus ponds.

• Walking route: Gate 1 → Lotus Pavilion → Wangyue Pavilion → Yuwei Pavilion
• Boat route: Gate 1 → Dock 2 → Lotus Pond → Dock 1 → Wangyue Pavilion → Yuwei Pavilion

• Address: No 4788 Hutai Road, Baoshan district
• Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm; last entry at 4:30 pm
• Admission: 20 yuan ($2.93) per person

Shanghai Expo Culture Park

For those seeking a more centrally located destination, Shanghai Expo Culture Park offers a display of lotus flowers surrounded by urban greenery. White and pink blossoms spread across the water, creating a vivid summer scene. Late afternoon is an ideal time to visit, when the setting sun casts a warm golden glow across the lotus leaves.

Starting July 3, Shenyuan Garden will offer summer evening visits, allowing visitors to admire the lotus blooms by day and explore the classical garden after dark.

• Address: No 100 Jikun Road, Pudong New Area
• Opening hours: The main park is open 24 hours
• Admission: Entry to the main park is free; admission to Shenyuan Garden is 30 yuan per person

Langxia Country Park

Langxia Country Park offers a relaxed rural setting, with expansive lotus ponds lying beside traditional Jiangnan-style houses. White walls, green trees, and pink lotus flowers come together to form a scene reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting. Visitors can also explore nearby rural attractions and enjoy a slower pace of life.

• Address: No 9133 Caolang Highway, Jinshan district
• Opening hours: 8:30 am to 5 pm; last entry at 4:30 pm
• Admission: Free

Guyi Garden

Every summer, Guyi Garden becomes a popular destination for lotus enthusiasts. Its bridges, pavilions, carved windows, and corridors form classic Jiangnan garden scenes against a backdrop of blooming lotus flowers.

The garden is the main venue for the 13th Shanghai Lotus and Water Lily Exhibition, which opens on June 28. It features more than 500 lotus varieties and over 110 water lily varieties, as well as themed landscapes, cultural activities, and lotus-inspired food.

• Address: No 218 Huyi Highway, Jiading district
• Opening hours: North Gate from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm; South Gate from 7 am to 6:30 pm (extended to 8:30 pm on weekends)
• Admission: 12 yuan per person

Panlong Xintiandi

Panlong Xintiandi offers a distinctive lotus-viewing experience, with flower-adorned boats moored along the waterways and bamboo installations complementing the area's traditional Jiangnan architecture.

Near the Yuz Museum, a waterside market sells freshly cut lotus flowers and lotus-themed products, including handmade sachets, lotus teas, and plant-dyed fabric bags. The market runs through Sept 13 and is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

• Address: No 123 Alley 8, Pending Road, Xujing town, Qingpu district
• Opening hours: 11 am to 10 pm
• Admission: Free. Boat rides and market purchases are charged separately.

Maison Florale

Lotus flowers are not confined to outdoor ponds; they also bloom indoors. At Maison Florale, Summer Solstice Gleam is a floral art exhibition inspired by lotus flowers, featuring award-winning varieties in international aquatic plant competitions.

The interplay of shadows, light, and space art recreates the essence of a lotus pond. The venue's century-old red-brick building provides a perfect backdrop for photos, blending historic architecture with natural elements for a unique summer vibe.

• Address: Room 101, No 100 Dongxinmin Road, Jing'an district
• Exhibition period: Through June 28, from 10 am to 6 pm
• Admission: 39 yuan per person. Reservations available through the "Ms Black Boutique" WeChat mini program.

Mianqing Park

Less crowded than many popular viewing spots, Mianqing Park offers layers of pink, red, and white lotus flowers in a tranquil wetland setting.

The multi-petaled white lotus is a particular highlight, with layers of pristine white petals. Jiangnan-style pavilions stand among the ponds, while bald cypress trees and wetland landscapes stretch into the distance. Visitors may also spot waterbirds gliding gracefully across the lake.

• Address: No 2740 Chuanzhou Highway, Pudong New Area
• Opening hours: 24 hours
• Admission: Free

More lotus-viewing spots across Shanghai

District	Locations
Pudong New Area	Shanghai Wild Animal Park, Chuansha Park, Gaoqiao Park, Linyi Park, Tangqiao Park, Huaxia Park, Gangcheng Park, Mianqing Park, Jinkui Green Park, Dongcheng Square Green Park, Jinzun Wetland Park, Jinzun Sports Park, Shanghai Expo Culture Park, Peony Park Pudong Shanghai, Yanbei Park, Nicheng Riverside Cultural Park, Dishui Lake Cherry Blossom Island, Land of Wonder Central Park
Huangpu	Fuxing Park
Xuhui	Shanghai Botanical Garden, Longhua Martyrs Cemetery, Caoxi Park, Caohejing Hi-Tech Zone Park, Guijiang Road Green Space
Changning	Shanghai Zoo, Zhongshan Park
Jing'an	Zhabei Park, Daning Park
Putuo	Guanlong Park, Wuning Park
Hongkou	Lu Xun Park, Heping Park
Yangpu	Shanghai Gongqing Forest Park, Yangpu Park
Minhang	Xinzhuang Park, Wujing Park, Huacao Park, Minhang Sports Park, Xinzhuang Plum Flower Park, Zhudi Park, Minhang Cultural Park
Baoshan	Songnan Park, Gucun Park, Miaohang Park, Jusheng Park, Meilan West Lake Park
Jiading	Guyi Garden, Huilongtan Park, Shanghai Auto Expo Park, Jiading Wisteria Garden, Lujiashan Lotus Park, Xincheng Park, Century Green Garden, Yuanxiang Lake Park, Nanxiang Water Ecological Park, Guihu Park, Yinxiang Lake Park
Jinshan	Binhai Park, Huicui Park, Jinshan Xincheng Park
Songjiang	Chenshan Botanical Garden, Zuibaichi Park
Qingpu	Shanghai Grand View Garden, Zhuxi Garden, Beiqing Park, Chenxing Park
Fengxian	Guhua Park, Xinghuo Park, Darling Park, Pao Pao Park, Hongye Park, South Shanghai Central Park
Chongming	C Lake Park

 

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, flower viewing spots mentioned above