Flower sales boom in Beijing as New Year holiday season approaches

As China gears up for a string of festive celebrations in the run-up to the traditional Spring Festival holiday in late January and early February, the vibrant explosion of flower sales has turned the market into a colorful frenzy.

Waves of consumers are flocking to a flower market in Shunyi District of Beijing to purchase bougainvillea, a plant typically found in southern China but increasingly popular among consumers in the north.

Local flower merchants have successfully domesticated bougainvillea for northern climates, making it more cold-resistant and easier to maintain.

"This year, we've clearly noticed an increase in customer preference for bougainvillea, especially from those who come specifically to buy our bougainvillea," said Zhang Chao, a sales manager at the flower market.

Recently, more and more customers have been coming to the Beijing Flower Trading Center in Fengtai District to purchase Rhododendron lapponicum. "The natural blooming period of Rhododendron lapponicum is from March to May in spring. However, to meet the demand during the Spring Festival shopping season, we've used some technical methods to induce bud growth in December, ensuring that the flowers bloom during the festival. This year, we have about 30,000 pots of Rhododendron lapponicum for sale, including more than 20 varieties," said Wang Jiahuan, a staff member at the Beijing Flower Trading Center.

This distribution center, covering an area of 30,000 square meters, primarily serves flower shop owners and individual consumers in Beijing, Tianjin Municipality, Hebei Province, and surrounding areas. Currently, the center holds around one million pots of flowers, which is approximately 20 percent more than the same period last year.

"When this year's New Year flowers were first delivered to our market, they sold out quickly. Customers are usually keen to purchase flowers from the New Year's Day (Jan. 1) to the Lantern Festival (that falls on Feb. 12 this year). Our daily sales range from 30,000 to 50,000 pots," said Yun Mingyue, deputy manager of the Beijing Shunyi International Flower Port.

At the Beijing Shunyi International Flower Port, many merchants have introduced succulent plants, air plants, and other types of flowering plants as their main products. These plants are popular among young people due to their low maintenance requirements and minimal need for watering. Additionally, simulation flowers have gained favor for their realistic appearance, long-lasting appeal, and being easy to manage.

Flower sales boom in Beijing as New Year holiday season approaches

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation