A lotus flower blooms in Qintang district of Guigang, SW China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Over 230 hectares of lotuses are flourishing in the Qintang district of Guigang, a city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Since 2014, when a lotus park was set up in Qintang, more than 350 varieties of lotuses have been introduced there, drawing heavy tourism. Last year, over 700,000 people visited the park, enriching local villagers.

According to statistics from the district government, 3,200 residents from 900 families escaped poverty due to the lotus park, which directly offered over 600 job opportunities and boosted other service facilities like restaurants, homestays, and stores in the neighborhood.