On July 24, the 33rd Bamboo and Lotus Cultural Season at Zizhuyuan Park officially kicked off under the theme "Bamboo and Lotus in Dual Realms — A Dream of Jianghu" (竹荷双境·一梦江湖), bringing visitors a 31-day immersive Chinese-style wuxia experience! Wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction that revolves around martial arts adventures in ancient China.

This year's Bamboo and Lotus Cultural Season innovatively introduces an immersive play mode where "visitors become wandering heroes and sightseeing becomes an adventure in Jianghu (literally meaning "rivers and lakes" —the world that wuxia inhabit)." Using a beautifully crafted Bamboo and Lotus Adventure Pass, visitors can take part in themed challenges that ingeniously combine the cultural symbolism of bamboo and lotus with the storytelling traditions of wuxia. During the activities, visitors can enjoy role-playing, interactive challenges, and scene-based immersive experiences, while capturing wonderful memories through photo check-ins, and even have the chance to obtain limited-edition themed merchandise.

Every Saturday and Sunday, live music pop-up performances and costumed character parades will take place at Fengyuntai (风云台) in the Cultural Square (文化广场), open for impromptu participation by all visitors. A new cultural and creative market debuts this year, bringing together multiple time-honored brands and quality labels while introducing intangible cultural heritage crafts. Arts and crafts experience activities, built around the traditional Qixi Festival (China's Valentine's Day) customs, will guide visitors in handcrafting their own customized summer gifts. Science education activities will be conducted around multiple themes through on-site guided tours and educational lectures, making the event an ideal summer outing for youth and families.

In addition, the 31-day Bamboo and Lotus Cultural Season coincides with the 2026 Beijing Park Art Season. A program of music and dance performances, together with curated exhibitions on aesthetics, calligraphy and painting, will provide visitors with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the cultural significance of bamboo and lotus.

Tips for Visitors:

1. Opening hours for the cultural and creative market and themed challenge activities:16:00–20:00 on weekdays;

10:00–20:00 on weekends.

2. It's extremely hot outside. Please stay cool and drink plenty of water while visiting.

Ready to step into the world of wuxia this summer?

(Source: Beijing Daily)