Lotus Festival opens at Beijing's Old Summer Palace

The 26th annual Lotus Festival of Yuanmingyuan Park opened on Monday and will run until Aug 20.

Over 200 varieties of lotuses will bloom all over the park during the festival, the former site of a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal resort, also known as the Old Summer Palace.

Lotus covers over 66-hectares of waters in Yuanmingyuan, making the park a key tourist destination in Beijing for viewing the beautiful blooms in summertime. Late July is when the flowers are in full blossom. A viewing route on water is newly opened this year for visitors to get up close to the flowers while riding in a boat.

Photograph and painting competitions will be organized throughout the festival for tourists to better enjoy their leisure time at the park.