Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – "The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green; the lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, are a vibrant red"—the lotus flowers of Hangzhou's West Lake have long been a refined image in the hands of poets. All of this is inseparable from the year-round dedication of the lotus growers.
On January 23, several small boats slowly sailed onto the water near the Flower Harbor Park in Hangzhou's West Lake, Zhejiang Province. Maintenance workers on board moved among the withered lotus leaves, carrying out orderly cleanup operations, officially launching the annual winter harvest of withered lotus leaves in West Lake.
Due to the recent generally higher temperatures and increased accumulated temperature, the lotus rhizomes in West Lake are expected to sprout earlier than usual by the end of February. To avoid affecting the natural growth cycle of the lotus flowers, the West Lake Water Management Office has scientifically adjusted its maintenance plan, bringing forward this year's harvest of withered lotus leaves by about half a month compared to previous years.
This harvest covers 24 lotus areas in West Lake, totaling approximately 150 acres, and continues to employ a combined "manual + mechanical" approach. Maintenance workers used semi-automatic equipment by boat for harvesting, combined with manual dredging, improving efficiency while minimizing the impact on the lake's underwater ecosystem.
Yu Yangyang, head of the aquatic plant maintenance team at the West Lake Scenic Area Water Management Office, explained, "The main purpose of this cleanup of withered lotus leaves is to prevent pests and diseases, prevent eutrophication, and create conditions for the healthy growth of lotus flowers next year."
Although the lotus leaves have withered, the winter lotus leaves, with their sparse shadows, create a tranquil atmosphere reminiscent of Wu Guanzhong's ink painting "Withered Lotus and New Willows," becoming a unique winter landscape of West Lake.
To extend the viewing period for citizens and tourists, the harvesting was carried out from the periphery towards the center, deliberately leaving core viewing areas such as Beili Lake for last. The entire harvesting work is expected to last about 17 days.
It is reported that West Lake is expected to see the budding lotus leaves again in April; the first wave of lotus flowers is expected to bloom from the end of May to the beginning of June. (End)
