As the temperature rises inexorably day by day, the vibrant water lilies at the Zhouji Green Expo Garden – situated in the Tongzhou district of Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – come into bloom, in enchanting wave after wave.

The glorious flowers in red, pink, yellow and purple light up the water and transform the garden in summer. [Photo by Peng Changqing/Nantong Daily]

The water lily is a precious species among aquatic flowers. Its appearance is similar to that of the lotus. The difference is that the leaves and flowers of the lotus stand out of the water, while those of water lily float on the water. [Photo by Peng Changqing/Nantong Daily]

In Nantong, the blooming period of the water lilies is from June to September.

Now, then, is a great time to savor the thousands of water lilies in their dozens of varieties in Zhouji Green Expo Garden, according to staff.

One highlight is a special variety called Wanvisa, rare in Jiangsu, which was co-cultivated by experts from Thailand and Japan who say it mutates during the breeding process. The opening of each flower is like a blind box, they add, without a fixed color.

The flowers of two rare bicolor Wanvisa water lilies emerge at the Zhouji Green Expo Garden in Tongzhou district. [Photo by Peng Changqing/Nantong Daily]

Due to the unique characteristics of the water lilies, the tip for visitors is that the best viewing time is from 9 am to 3 pm.