As the Chinese New Year approaches, the country's flower market is ushering in its peak season, offering a vibrant selection of blooms at attractive prices.
In Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, auspicious flowering plants such as phalaenopsis, cyclamen, and anthurium have proven to be extremely popular with customers. Flower shop owner Guo Wei noted that sales usually peak around Jan 10 each year, which has seen him stocking up beforehand to meet the surging demand.
"Currently, flowers and plants for Chinese New Year decorations, such as phalaenopsis, cyclamen, and (red-dyed) silver willow, are seeing strong sales at our shop. The daily sales of silver willow reach around 30 bouquets. Consumers like it because its red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity," said Guo.
At a large flower market in Zhengzhou, various types of Chinese Lunar New Year flowers are being packaged and prepared to be sold across the country. According to the market vendors, phalaenopsis is one of the bestsellers, with daily sales reaching around 800 pots, and sales expected to double and peak in about a week.
Compared to last year, the variety of phalaenopsis has expanded to more than 120 types, and the prices of most phalaenopsis species have dropped by nearly 20 percent.
Flower traders in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, are also seeing a surge in sales as the festive and auspicious atmosphere for the nearing Spring Festival intensifies.
"Currently, our average daily (turnover) is between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan (136 and 273 U.S. dollars). Based on previous years' experience, we expect sales to peak by the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, with a daily turnover of around 30,000 to 50,000 yuan (4,092 to 6,819 U.S. dollars)," said Jin He, a flower vendor.
This year, customers are seeking more innovative and unique New Year decoration flowers, with a focus on bold colors, distinctive shapes, and diverse varieties.
"Phalaenopsis is available in various varieties, with imported ones having more colors. Dendrobium is also popular, with more new varieties. We sell about six to eight pots of dendrobium per day," said Wu Yi, another flower vendor.
Chinese New Year flower market ushers in peak season
Beijing has stepped up efforts to provide support to international travelers with enhanced service centers and assistance points being set up at airports in the Chinese capital, as the expansion of visa-free policies in China sees the arrival of more people from overseas.
One-stop service counters have been operational in the international arrival areas of the Beijing Capital International Airport and the city's Daxing International Airport since the start of the year.
The counters offer over 20 types of essential services in areas such as finance, communication, transportation, culture and tourism, ensuring foreign visitors can find convenient information to help their travel go smoothly.
Foreign travelers can visit the counters to make cash withdrawals with their bank cards, exchange currency, and get help with downloading local mobile payment apps.
In the Mobile Services area, services such as the issuance of SIM cards for mobile phones and airport Wi-Fi access are provided.
Wang Shuo, an employee from China Unicom, one of the country's largest telecoms companies, introduced a special SIM card which is being offered to international travelers.
"It basically has three basic functions. First, it works like a regular SIM card, which means you can make phone calls and go on the Internet. Another one is you can make a payment with it without download any apps. You don't need Alipay, you don't need to download WeChat. The last function will be [for] taking public transportation, which means you can take buses or the subway," he said.
Additionally, travelers can buy a 'Beijing Pass' -- a versatile card designed to simplify transportation, sightseeing and shopping payments.
The counters also offer help and advice on how to buy subway tickets or airport shuttle bus passes, while a selection of brochures featuring cultural, sports and business activities are also available.
Staff say they are on-hand around the clock to offer assistance to all arrivals.
"We are here 24 hours a day and seven days a week. And if you have any questions, just come to this counter. We will try our best to help you and we always provide information about the terminal facilities and transportation and how to use the mobile payments and the common applications in China," said Cai Pengcheng, a staff member at a service center at the Beijing Capital International Airport.
Beijing continues to enhance services, assistance for int'l visitors
