Giant lily pads carry weight of delighted visitors

Updated: Aug 14, 2023 By Liu Kun in Wuhan and Chen Meiling chinadaily.com.cn Print

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A child stands on a giant lily pad at a pond at the Wuhan Botanical Garden in early August. [Photo by Jiang Wen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The pond has about 40 of the water lilies, with their leaves floating on the surface — huge, green, round disks. Early in the morning, children wait in line to step on them. People stood, sat and posed for pictures. A total of 110 children took part on Saturday.

Workers said children lighter than 35 kg were allowed to participate. To ensure safety, foam boards were placed on the lily pads to decrease pressure.

The backs of the leaves are covered with sturdy veins that radiate from the center to the edge. There are also several branches off the main vein, forming a strong and intricate network that provides a powerful skeleton for support.

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