Jasmine flower growers find budding prosperity

New markets blossom as customers seek aromatic plant of many uses

Flower grower Wei Caiyu, 47, leans over in a field of jasmine and quickly picks some fragrant flower buds. She is anxious to get on her motorcycle to sell the fresh jasmine in the market before it rains. It's 9:30 am in mid-October and she is heading out for the fourth time - and the price differs each time.

"My waist aches after bending down for a long time, and the sun is hot most of the time. It's tiring work, but the effort is worthwhile because of its profitability," said Wei, from Hengxian county in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.