The summer heat of Chang'an has lingered for a thousand years
长安的暑气蒸腾了千年
yet the lotus in its ponds blooms with unhurried grace each year
池中的荷却年年开得从容
Pink and white petals cup the dew—and also the moonlight of the Tang Dynasty
粉白的花盏盛着露水也盛着唐朝的月光
When the breeze passes, the entire ancient city sways gently upon the lotus leaves
风拂过时，整座古城都在荷叶上轻轻摇曳
In the Tang era, Chang'an was a veritable paradise for lotus lovers
唐代的长安就已经是赏荷天堂了
Du Fu captures this in his Eight Odes on Autumn: "Floral calyxes line the walls where royal airs pass through, while lotus gardens stir up borderland woes."
杜甫《秋兴八首》写到“花萼夹城通御气，芙蓉小苑入边愁”
Today, the Huae Xianghui Tower and Tang Paradise still stand as Xi'an's renowned lotus destinations
花萼相辉楼和大唐芙蓉园至今仍是西安著名荷苑
The summer days are long, and the countless lotus leaves sway in the wind
夏日漫长，漫天荷叶在风中舞动
Instantly understand why moms like to use lotus flowers as their profile pictures
瞬间理解妈妈们为啥喜欢用荷花当头像了
While her circle of friends shares flower shots and sunlit selfies one after another,she is simply missing that one striking lotus portrait, worthy of her frame
朋友圈里阿姨们都在晒花晒草晒自拍，咱妈就缺一张能镇住场子的荷花图了
Come on, @Mom, just pick one at random
快@妈妈随意挑选吧
A Guide to Lotus Viewing
古城赏荷地图
Tang Paradise
No. 99 Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
大唐芙蓉园
——中国陕西省西安市雁塔区曲江新区芙蓉西路99号
Lianhu Park
No. 58 Lianhu Road, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
莲湖公园
——中国陕西省西安市莲湖区莲湖路58号
Qujiang Pool Relic Park
Southeast Corner of the Intersection of Qujiangchi West Road and Qujiangchi North Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
曲江池遗址公园
——中国陕西省西安市雁塔区曲江池西路与曲江池北路交叉口东南角
Xingqing Palace Park
No. 55 Xianning West Road, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
兴庆宫公园
——中国陕西省西安市碑林区咸宁西路55号
When the lotuses blossom
荷花开时
poetry returns to Chang'an
长安便有了诗
Choose a fair-weather day
择一晴日
seek out a lotus-filled pond
寻一处荷塘
and answer the call of summer
去赴这场属于夏天的约定吧
Author: Fly Niu, Xueqing, Ian, Zimo, An
Picture: Yui, VCG