Blooming lotus flowers and seedpods of the lotus at Nantong Botanical Garden. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

With the arrival of Great Heat, which indicates the start of the hottest season of the year in most parts of China, lotus flowers are starting to blossom over the park lakes in Nantong, Jiangsu province.

The 30-mu (2-hectare) pond at Nantong Botanical Garden is filled with blooming lotus flowers, attracting numerous visitors.

The lotus pond features over 20 species of lotus flowers and 13 species of water lilies, whose flowering season spans from July to August.

Visitors can also catch a glimpse of blooming garden cosmos and golden daisy bushes as well as escape the summer heat with a taste of lotus flower-shaped ice cream bars.

In addition to Nantong Botanical Garden, places such as Seyuan Garden, Binjiang Park, and Jianshan Mountain are also great for admiring lotus flowers.

Blossoming and budding lotus flowers at Nantong Botanical Garden. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Blossoming and budding lotus flowers at Nantong Botanical Garden. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A visitor dressed in hanfu poses for a photo with lotus flowers at Nantong Botanical Garden. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A visitor shows off a lotus flower-shaped ice cream bar in front of a blooming lotus flower. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A bird's-eye view of the lotus pond at Nantong Botanical Garden. [Photo/Nantong Daily]