Volunteers helped sell the fresh lotuses Photo: Han Yifei
People queued up for fresh lotuses from the West Lake at 7:30 am
Seasonal treat
By Han Yifei
The serene shore of the West Lake in Hangzhou is recently abuzz with a long line of eager locals seeking for a "good luck" in buying freshly harvested lotus seeds and leaves. This annual sale is a tradition deeply ingrained in the local culture. With a combo of leaves and seeds sold at 10 yuan and a limited supply, the event has become a highly anticipated.
As the clock struck 7 am, residents were already quietly lining up. Many of them are the frequent buyers year after year.
Shortly after, a harvesting boat laden with bags of lotus leaves and seeds slowly approached from the Broken Bridge, getting ready to pack and sell the combos. In just 15 minutes, all the 50 West Lake Lotus combos were sold out, leaving those lucky enough to have secured a purchase rejoicing, while others with a plan to return the next day.
These limited gifts from the West Lake provide more than a taste of freshness; the entire income will be donated to charitable organizations.
Despite the rapid sale, few are aware of the painstaking preparations behind the scene. Harvested from 24 distinct lotus zones spanning 25 acres in the Lake, primarily from the North and West Inner Lake areas, these lotus leaves and seeds are not merely natural treats but the results of diligent care and nurturing.
One of the most well-known lotus keepers is Chen Laidi, who has recently retired after 40 years of managing the water area since he was 17. These caretakers set out before dawn, fully clad with gloves and long sleeves, navigating dense and thorny vegetation, facing challenges from insects and bees, to spend hours harvesting the ripe leaves and fresh lotus seeds.
Beginning on August 8, the sales open daily at 8:30 am near the Qianwang's Temple Wharf, with a one-portion-per-person limit until sold out (sales suspended during rainy days and weekends). There is no specific end date, but the sales usually last until late August.
The fresh West Lake lotus seeds leave a bite of pure fragrance. They can be refrigerated for over three days before used in rice porridges, while the leaves are used for making tea with weight-loss functions, as wrappers when steaming pork or baking Beggar's Chicken, a local specialty.
The customers waiting in line are mainly elderly local residents, the earliest of whom may get there at around 3 a.m. Their deep connection to the West Lake and the products it yields is palpable.
The nearby area is filled with tourists admiring the lake's beauty and locals participating in morning square dancing to the rhythm of Waiting for You, the song for the volunteers of Hangzhou Asian Games.
As summer gives way to autumn, the West Lake's lotus blossoms have reached full bloom. The joy and anticipation surrounding this annual sale reflect not only a sense of community but a celebration of culture, taste, and nature's bounty.