Life of Guangzhou - Lianhua Mt.: 100 Thousand Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom

Theme: the 20th Lotus Festival
Date: June 19 to July 19, 2008
Place: Lianhua (Lotus) Mountain, Panyu District, Guangzhou

One hundred thousand lotus flowers of over 180 different kinds in full bloom can be appreciated in Guangzhou at present. Of these varieties, there are local lotus flowers and others from Japan, America, Australia, even lotus that have traveled outer space.

Martin Yan

Visitors can not only feast their eyes, but also their stomachs. A special lotus flowers featured banquet is included in this festival. Travel Promotion Ambassador of Lianhua Mountain and famous chef Martin Yan will be the guests who demonstrate lotus cooking performances.

Martin Yan (Chinese: 甄文达) is a Chinese-born American chef and the host of the award-winning US national cooking show Yan Can Cook. Born in Guangzhou, China, to a restaurateur father and a grocer mother, Yan began to cook at 12. Ten years after his arrival in North America, Yan received a Master of Science degree in food science from the University of California, Davis, in 1975.

Another fascinating activity – first lotus photograph competition – will be held during the festival. The winner can get RMB 3000.

(By Zhu Yanshan, Alan Devey)