Chengdu's 1-Hour Lotus Boat Adventure! Thousand-Acre Lotus Pond Navigation Map

🌈 Highlights:
◾ Every summer I search for the perfect boating route to admire lotuses. After exploring ponds along the Pujiang and Xiejiang river systems, I concluded—there wasn't one!
◾ Until discovering this heavenly water route between Fujiang River islands—nearly ten lotus ponds, 700+ varieties, forming a 5km floral waterway. The only true lotus-boating paradise near Chengdu!

📍 Location: Suining's Boat (Lotus) Mountain District [Fig.9], 1h direct by HSR from Chengdu
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✨ Why is this route "legendary"?
✔️ Boat-friendly: Open green waters allow free paddling through lotus leaves (see Fig.9 for restricted red zones)
✔️ Floral diversity: Hundreds of thousands of plants, 700+ varieties representing 70% of global lotus species across seven color groups (some varieties absent this year but still spectacular)
✔️ Expansive distribution: Four areas—"Jiulianzhou Wetland", "Guanyin Lake Wetland", "Shenglian Island", "Renli Dock"—with ponds spanning 5km of waterways, most concentrated at "Shenglian Island" and "Jiulianzhou"
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🎯 Best boating times
🌅 Dawn (5:30–8:30): Golden hours avoiding heat and crowds!
Soft light reveals blooming water lilies and rare varieties
🌃 Night (18:00–20:00): Launch from "Renli Dock" to paddle "Lianmeng River" lotus ponds
"Linxian Pavilion" and "Lingquan Temple" become magical when lit (avoid core scenic areas due to occasional patrols)
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🛶 Launch points [Fig.9]
‣ Prime: A.Guanyin Lake Wetland, C.Renli Dock, D.Zilian Crossing (hard-surface docks)
‣ Secondary: B.Guanlian Platform (requires fence climbing; muddy during high water with uncertain conditions)
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🚗 Accommodation & Transport:
‣ 🏠 Stay: "Shenglian Island" recommended. "Marriott Hotel" perfect for post-dawn naps before evening paddling
‣ 🚄 HSR: To Suining Station (1h). 15-minute taxi to World Lotus Expo Garden
‣ 🚗 Drive: Navigate to Jiulianzhou Ecological Wetland Park (2h). Great for walking/photos (no boating here)
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✨ Must-See Lotus Varieties
📸 Photographer's list:
▫️ Flame Lotus: Fiery petals stunning at dawn backlight
▫️ Nine-Grade Fragrant Lotus: Pink-yellow gradient with premium fragrance
▫️ Colorful Water Lilies: Close at night—catch their 7am "wake-up" blooming
🎉 Novelty varieties:
▫️ North American Victoria: Leaves large enough to seat children, ultra-photogenic
▫️ Thousand-Petal Buddha Lotus: Shenglian Island's "treasure", up to 1,000 petals
▫️ Golden Lotus: Sacred Buddhist flower that "surges" from the earth
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