Lotus flowers, the national flower of Vietnam, are in full bloom in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Huangshan City in China.
The flowers only bloom in the summer. The petals, leaves, seeds and roots of the flower are edible, and are used in medicines and cuisines across Asia.
In Buddhism, the lotus represents purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness; in Hinduism, it's associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality and eternity.