The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced in a statement on Friday that the 26th Macao Lotus Flower Festival will be held from June 12 (next Friday) to July 17, featuring more than 9,000 pots of lotus flowers to be displayed across Macau, apart from a raft of exhibitions, workshops and eco-tour activities designed to celebrate the city’s official flower.
Held under the theme “Lotus Filling Macao with Joy”, this year’s festival will showcase the lotus variety Nelumbo nucifera “Xingfen”* as its thematic flower, the statement said, adding that the cultivar is known for its peach-shaped pink buds that gradually open into light pink blossoms edged with bright red.
The statement noted that more than 20 lotus varieties will be displayed throughout different districts of Macau, underlining that the festival’s main exhibition venue will be located along Avenida da Praia in Taipa, where landscape installations incorporating bamboo-inspired structures and artificial stone sculptures will be arranged to create an immersive flower-viewing experience.
The statement said that the exhibition aims to combine the symbolism of lotus culture with Macau’s East-meets-West character, providing visitors with opportunities for sightseeing, photography and leisure activities.
Beyond the main venue, around 9,000 pots of lotus flowers and more than 11,000 pots of seasonal flowers and shrubs will be placed throughout the city, the statement highlighted.
In addition, major display locations include Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s, and Lou Lim Ioc Garden, the statement said, adding that this year’s edition will also continue its collaboration with the Hengqin Lotus Flower Festival. The latter will be held from June 26 to July 10.
According to the statement, both Macau and Hengqin will feature the same thematic flower, highlighting cultural and tourism cooperation between the neighbouring cities while promoting the heritage and symbolism of the lotus.
A series of supporting activities will accompany the festival, including lotus appreciation eco-tours, a Hengqin lotus eco-tour, lotus-themed parent-child culinary workshops, mobile phone photography workshops focused on lotus flowers, planting activities for children and other lotus-themed workshops, the statement said.
The annual festival aims to combine floral displays, cultural experiences and educational activities while encouraging residents and visitors to explore different districts of Macau during the early summer blooming season, the statement noted.
The festival will run through July 17, with activities taking place at venues across the city.
*The name “Xingfen” translates literally to “Apricot Pink” or “Pink Beige” in Chinese, a direct reference to the unique, delicate colouration of its petals. Unlike standard lotus flowers that display vivid pink or stark white hues, “Xingfen” is prized for its soft, pastel gradient – blending a gentle pink with warm, subtle beige undertones. – Gemini
This poster provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Friday promotes its upcoming 26th Macao Lotus Flower Festival slated to start next Friday.
