The price for fresh-cut flowers has soared in Kunming City of southwest China's Yunnan Province as the Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, is around the corner.
The Qixi Festival, originating from a 2,000-year-old legend of two lovers, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar. This year the festival falls on Aug 10.
The Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center experienced its peak for Qixi Festival flower sales between Aug 2 and 9, with the highest daily supply reaching 9.8 million flower stems and an average daily transaction volume of around 8 million.
"Roses with large heads, thick petals and cup-shaped blooms are in high demand, so are small, fresh and natural-looking flowers. Among the best-selling flowers this year, white varieties have seen particularly strong pricing," said Li Zhijun, an auctioneer at the Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center.
Due to a decrease in flower supply this year, market prices have risen by 40 percent compared to the previous year, and the prices of certain popular flower varieties have continued to rise as the Qixi Festival approaches.
"The price [of the 'pride rose' variety] can reach 6.5 yuan (about 0.9 U.S. dollars) per stem, tripling the normal price level," said Li.
A flower company in the city was brightly lit at night, with live streaming to sell flowers in full swing and the staff working rapidly to pack the flowers into boxes, racing against the clock to reach customers across the country.
"We started preparing the inventory between Aug 1 and 2, and the market rushed to purchase the flowers at that time. The flower market at this year's Qixi Festival was very robust," said Zhang Yihao, head of the flower company.
At the city's Dounan Flower Market, Asia's largest fresh-cut flower trading market, customers are also rushing to buy flowers, hoping to create a romantic atmosphere in their homes.
Price of flowers soars in Yunnan ahead of Chinese Valentine's Day
Various celebrations are being staged across China in anticipation of the fast-approaching New Year's Day and the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, or Spring Festival, boosting the market for related goods as more revelers get into the festive spirit.
In Beijing, more than 1,000 lanterns themed around fashion and technology are offering a colorful display in the city's Wenyuhe Park, making it one of the largest lantern festivals in the city this year.
In Shanghai, business districts have launched a series of themed decorations, exhibitions, performances, and interactive activities. Local authorities have also distributed consumption coupons, further stimulating consumer spending during the New Year's Day holiday, which falls on Wednesday.
In the nearby city of Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang Province, several promotional activities have been introduced to boost consumption. Additionally, business areas and shopping streets have been upgraded to meet the consumer demand for high-quality goods.
Special Spring Festival fairs have also been set up across the country as Chinese people gear up for their largest annual celebration around the Chinese New Year, which lands at the end of January in 2025.
In Huaiyuan County of east China's Anhui Province, a local fair is attracting visitors with a variety of well-known agricultural products. In Zhangzhou City of the coastal Fujian Province, a one-stop feature fair allows both visitors and locals to purchase a wide range of items.
Meanwhile, in northeast China's Jilin Province, local authorities in the city of Ji'an have sought to take advantage of the snowy conditions by integrating winter sports, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a range of snow and ice activities while shopping for Spring Festival goods.
Additionally, flowers are in high demand at many marketplaces across China as more people look to prepare some floral decorations as part of the celebrations.
In Kunming of southwest China's Yunnan Province, a special flower street featuring Chinese New Year flowers has been set up, where over 15,000 flowers are available, including more than 120 varieties of orchids.
Local flower markets area also in full bloom in various other places, from the northern cities of Shijiazhuang and Taiyuan to Hetian in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, all offering a wide variety of creative and unique flowers, which have been well received by residents.
New Year celebrations help boost market for festive goods
