Lotus Grand View Garden

Lotus Grand View Garden

The Baiyangdian Lotus Grand View Garden is situated in the lotus marsh described by Sun Li, covering an area of over 2,000 acres. It features six zones, twelve gardens, thirty-six scenic spots, seventy-two connected bridges, 666 varieties of famous lotuses from China and abroad, as well as 366 species of various aquatic plants. It is currently the largest and most diverse ecological attraction in China dedicated to cultivating lotuses and aquatic plants. It has been designated as the “Hebei Provincial Famous, Special, and High-Quality Lotus Breeding Demonstration Base” and the “Provincial Wetland Nature Reserve Wildlife Breeding Demonstration Base.” In 2003, it successfully hosted the 17th National Lotus Exhibition.

The highlight of visiting the Grand View Garden is admiring the lotuses. Among the 156 precious and rare varieties, you can find the American yellow lotus, Japan’s Oga lotus, and the Friendship Peony lotus bred jointly by China and the United States. The South American Victoria water lily is particularly unique, capable of supporting several pounds in weight, and is hailed as the king of lotuses. The place where the Lotus Grand View Garden is located is called the Lotus Marsh. For thousands of years, the lotuses here have attracted countless literati and poets, enchanted many dignitaries and nobles, delighted men and women alike, and captivated generations of emperors and imperial consorts.

The Baiyangdian Lotus Grand View Garden is a comprehensive ecological attraction integrating tourism, leisure vacations, conferences, training, team-building activities, and water sports. It includes a folk village dining and accommodation area, offering standard rooms and a VIP building that can accommodate up to 400 guests. There is also the Wild Fish Fragrance Restaurant, which can serve 1,000 diners simultaneously, along with meeting rooms for 400 and 60 people, the Lotus Garden Club entertainment hall, and other supporting facilities. The garden also offers activities such as fishing, water fights, crabbing, team training, jet skiing, releasing lotus lanterns, and bonfire parties.

The Folk Village presents a simple and elegant exterior but boasts high-end and luxurious interiors. This large manor-style hotel features suites, triple rooms, double standard rooms, and single rooms. The 108 guest rooms are divided among six traditional quadrangle courtyards. Facilities include the Lotus Garden Club, meeting rooms, and round-the-clock shops. In front of the gate flows a moat, while inside the courtyard, there are scenic pools and dry streams with flowing water, complemented by lotuses, water lilies, and fish, creating a delightful scene. The estate is surrounded by wooden and bamboo fences, through which visitors can see the marsh water, reeds, and lotuses. The couplet at the entrance of the Folk Village—“Inlaid between the blue sky and water, nestled amid red lotuses and green reeds”—is a fitting description of the Folk Village.

Visiting Baiyangdian to admire the lotuses is indeed a delightful experience. The Ming Dynasty poet Lu Shanjì once wrote, “Returning from Baiyang in May after viewing the blossoms, the fragrance of the lotuses drifts into my dreams.” The joy of the day lingers, and the scent of the lotuses follows one into sleep—a true reflection of the experience. May the lotuses of the Lotus Grand View Garden inspire a sense of wonder in all visitors.