Bonanza blossoms at flower markets in Kunming

KUNMING — Livestreamers and merchants start work early every morning surrounded by the rainbow of flowers on sale at the bustling Dounan Flower Market in Kunming, Yunnan province.

"I present flowers to my audience on livestreaming platforms, and I also communicate with foreign companies about exports," said Hua Ren, who comes from a family of florists and has been engaged in the sale of flowers for over a decade.

"Southeast Asia has a high demand for potted plants and flowers, of which we have a steady supply," Hua said, adding that he has sensed a gradual rebound in the market and imported about a million orchid seedlings last year.

As Asia's largest fresh-cut flower trade market and a reliable national barometer, the Dounan Flower Market exports to 40 countries and regions. Between Jan 1 and the Lantern Festival on Feb 5, the Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center in Dounan experienced a surge in trade, with prices of items such as single roses increasing compared to the same period in 2019.

KIFA's trade volume climbed to 11.6 million during the Spring Festival holiday, and the trade volume of cut flowers in Dounan was approximately 77.56 million, with a turnover of 100 million yuan ($14.7 million). There was a daily average of 20,000 visitors to Dounan during the period, according to the management committee of the Kunming Dounan International Flowers Industrial Park.