By JIALEI TANG, 7/30/2016. It’s lotus season. The lotus farms in Shantou, Guangdong, have been blooming since late May. These farms not only serve as the city’s local resource for lotus seeds (which are eaten), but also a family destination during the weekends and summer vacation.
The serene beauty is outlined narrow walkways framing each acre. I watched families drive to the farm and the joyous noise of children excited for the mythical flowers. The farm is within the city area, perhaps a ten minute drive to the nearest bustling street. Do first tier cities have such places? Such earthy places that intrinsically summon people to its grounds for the sake of admiring beauty? Such opportunities for family time amidst a landscape that strikes the notion of home? After all, the lotus is richly entailed in Chinese culture. My favorite part? Its role in a dessert soup, together with lily bulbs, gingko nuts and gorgon fruit.