Often called ‘nature's most attuned herald of the seasons’, the reeds reach their peak in early September—a quiet window between the fading lotuses and the yet-to-bloom osmanthus. Now flourishing along the shores of Hangzhou’s Xiang Lake, vast stretches of reeds extend for hundreds of meters, drawing visitors into their soft, dreamlike scenery.

Their feathery, silvery plumes sway gently in the breeze, glowing with a delicate light under the sun. Neither brightly colored nor strongly scented, they convey the arrival of autumn with a serene, understated elegance. Unlike the brief brilliance of flower fields, the reed’s beauty is lasting and resilient, lingering gracefully from early autumn deep into the season. Would you like to come and wander into this subtle, enduring dream?