Flower fairs welcome Chinese New Year in Guangzhou

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Guangzhou, which has the romantic name of “Flower City,” is celebrating the Chinese New Year with – what else – flower fairs.

The New Year Carnival consists of folk culture performances, themed art shows, and cultural heritage demonstrations that will push the holiday atmosphere to its limit.

People at a flower fair in Liwan /Xinhua Photo

As one of the oldest customs, the flower fairs can be traced back to the Ming dynasty. Buying flowers to celebrate the Spring Festival is a must, especially in the Cantonese-speaking areas of China. As the old saying goes: “No flower fairs, no Spring Festivals.”

There are 11 districts holding fairs, including Yuexiu, Liwan, Haizhu, Huangpu and Baiyun from Feb. 13 to 16 and Panyu, Nansha and Conghua from Feb. 10 to 15.

Children walking with mascots /Xinhua Photo

Each district has its own specialty, with the Huadu district hosting the longest flower fair from Feb. 10 to 15. According to the Guangzhou government website, lucky visitors will be able to savor the beauty of over 27,000 booths displaying fresh flowers, penzai - known as bonsai in the western world - and other floral artwork.

People buying kumquats at a flower fair. /Xinhua Photo‍

The most beloved plant at the fairs is the kumquat, since it has a financially prosperous meaning. Besides Kumquat, peach blossom and peonies are also very popular.

“Every year we come to the flower fair with my friends,” says Wen Zimei, a lifelong Guangzhou resident. “It’s a great opportunity to hang out.”

Orchids at the fair. /CGTN Photo‍

“You can see a lot of interesting, beautiful, and nice things here,” says Anwar Shahia, a Pakistani student studying in Guangzhou. “Especially like flowers.”

“I love the peach flower blossom because it’s a symbol of luck in love,” says Liu Ruiwen, a longtime fair-goer. “My wish for 2018 is that I find happiness every day of the year.”

The mascots of this year's flower fairs. /Photo via Southcn.com

The mascots of this year’s flower fairs are two dogs named Huahua and Chengcheng. Rice flowers and kapok, the city flower, are elements in their designs. According to designer Ye Zhenghua, the dogs celebrate the New Year while the rice flowers represent the city’s abbreviated name in Chinese.

(CGTN Mark Fontes also contributed to the story.)

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