The flower industries in south China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are ushering in a peak sales season of the year thanks to a Mother's Day surge.
Retail and wholesale florists in both Guangdong and Guangxi saw significant increases in sales on Sunday -- the Mother's Day, which is seen as the start of a peak season for the flower business.
In the tech hub of Shenzhen in Guangdong, carnations, roses and Chinese peonies are the most popular among customers this year, and many local florists saw a boost to their transactions from the large shopping crowds.
"Sales here have been three to five times of that on an ordinary day. We have done all the work to make bouquets in advance. We expect 150 to 300 orders [today]," said Chen Qi, manager of a flower shop in the city's Nanshan District.
Zhou Yingqin, a wholesaler, said pink flowers are in hot demand particularly so far this year and the prices of many varieties have surged as a result.
"Flower prices will basically stay where they are throughout May because of the back-to-back holidays -- the Mother's Day and the May 20 Day (a romantic day seen by couples in China). I expect the demand to exceed supply," said Zhou, who is also in Nanshan District.
As May 12 also marks the International Nurses Day, various flower wholesale markets in Nanning, the regional capital of Guangxi, were bustling with activity as demand for fresh-cut flowers soared. And as in Guangdong, the prices of carnations and Chinese peonies in the city have also surged.
"Because of the coincidence of the Mother's Day and the International Nurses Day, sales are bound to surge, tripling or even quadrupling. We expect to sell hundreds of, even 1,000 bouquets [today]," said a local flower shop manager surnamed Tang.
Another said her shop offers a wider selection of flower arrangements this year, given the increasing demand.
"There has been a 10-percent increase in orders so far this year compared with previous years. Purple and pink flowers are very popular this year," she said.
Mother's Day surge drives flower industry boom in south China
Emergency measures are being put in place to help urban areas across China cope with sweltering daytime temperatures as a severe heatwave grips multiple regions of the country, with local community rest stations being set up to shield residents and provide much-needed respite to outdoor workers amid the scorching weather.
Large swathes of the country are baking as the summer heat takes hold. According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, eight of the top ten hottest areas nationwide on Wednesday were in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Turpan and Toksun both recorded temperatures above 44.5 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat is unlikely to let up anytime soon, as Hami Meteorological Station has issued a red alert and is forecasting that temperatures in Hami City will exceed 40 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Sunday.
In an effort to combat the heatwave, the local sanitation department has deployed multiple sprinkler and spray trucks to cover major roads in downtown Hami to help with dust suppression and road surface cooling, while upping the frequency of operations.
Persistent high temperatures have also affected many areas in the southwestern Sichuan Province, with some weather stations recording maximum highs exceeding 42 degrees Celsius and weather alerts being issued in numerous cities.
In Guang'an City, the mercury had already soared to 38 degrees Celsius by 10:00 Wednesday morning, pointing to a long, hot day ahead.
However, the county has opened nearly 350 'rest stations' to help local people escape the heat. These air-conditioned cooling points, equipped with fans, drinking water, emergency medicines, and seating, provide much-needed rest areas for outdoor workers such as delivery drivers and couriers, as well as to the elderly and other passersby.
"This round of high temperatures is characterized by its long duration, high temperatures, and the oppressive, muggy conditions, impacting outdoor workers and the elderly the most," said Yu Jilin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Wusheng County Federation of Trade Unions.
In the neighboring Chongqing Municipality, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on the same day.
At the exit of a busy highway in Wuxi County, heat waves shimmered on the road surface amid heavy traffic. Police officers on duty were busy checking vehicles under the scorching sun, focusing on any potential safety hazards in passenger and freight vehicles, while enduring the sizzling weather themselves.
"The main issue is the high temperature -- surface temperatures can reach over 50 degrees Celsius. Whenever we are on duty, the exhaust from passing fuel-powered vehicles feels scorching hot against our bodies," said Lin Xianyong, an auxiliary police officer.
Air-conditioned "rest stations" set up to provide respite as scorching heatwave grips China
