Lily square in Changchun park, Changchun, on July 1. [Photo/ ccnews.gov.cn]

Early in July, thousands of lilies have been flourishing in Changchun Park in the city of Changchun, Jilin province, bringing summer wonder and following on the heels of the peonies in June and the tulips back in May.

A stroll across the park's lily square puts you in a sea of flowers of many different colors, with stunning oranges, yellows and whites, mainly Asian varieties. The park opened to the public back in 2010 and has draw increasingly large numbers of people each year. In 2014, the layout and flower arrangements got a redesign, with the addition of 1,200 square meters of lilies and, now, thanks to the good care of the park staff, this is a good place to spend the summer.

Lilies can also have medicinal purposes and can be used in some Chinese dishes, giving them broader appreciation.