Is Hangzhou in July too hot to handle? But this sea of lotus flowers is so stunning it makes me want to move here!

Who says Hangzhou in July only brings scorching heat? When West Lake transforms into a pink ocean with thousands of blooming lotuses, you'll understand what "sweltering yet mesmerizing" truly means! Charging to Broken Bridge at 5 AM, I finally captured the lotus fairyland without crowds— ✅ Broken Bridge Lotus Area｜Arrive by 5:30! The granny selling lotus seeds at the morning market says early July lotuses with dew are the most ethereal. Frame the withered lotuses with Leifeng Pagoda on Bai Causeway for a perfect traditional Chinese aesthetic 📸 (Psst: Buy fresh lotus seeds to snack on while shooting—so sweet they’ll make you bubble with joy~) ✅ Beishan Street Lotus Area｜The hidden gem opposite Xinxin Hotel! With Broken Bridge as the foreground and City God Pavilion as the backdrop, pink lotuses peek through the morning mist—every shot looks straight out of a period drama 🌉 ✅ Hougushan Lotus Area｜The water by Xiling Bridge is so clear you can see fish darting! Crouch down to capture reflections of lotuses, green hills, and ancient bridges—no filter needed 💦 💡 Pro Tips from My Marathon Shoot: ▪️ Catch sunrise at 4:50! Golden-edged lotuses at 25°C are pure magic ▪️ Bring a traditional umbrella! Doubles as shade and prop—Guozhuang Garden’s rainy-day tea-and-lotus combo is unbeatable ▪️ Wear light colors! White dresses/neo-Chinese outfits blend perfectly with lotus fields 🌅 At sunset, head to Zhanbi Tower for "gold-inlaid-jade" views of Leifeng Pagoda—19:10 light turns leaves into amber. Though drenched in sweat, when my lens captured "endless emerald leaves meeting the sky," I finally got why locals adore Hangzhou summers ✨ (Note: Peak bloom mid-to-late July—set alarms for crowd-free shots!)