A woman of the Dai ethnic group dances on the leaf of the giant water lily at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. [Photo by Li Bolin/For chinadaily.com.cn]
The Victoria amazonica, commonly known as the giant water lily, has recently entered its peak blooming period at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province.
The giant lily pads float on the water's surface and can support the weight of a child or a lightweight adult, with a maximum capacity of up to 70 kilograms. It is a rite of passage for visitors to get a photo of themselves "sailing on a leaf".
