Flower markets bloom with sales ahead of Chinese New Year

As the Chinese Year of the Horse approaches, flower markets across China are heating up with activity, with a growing number of customers shopping for potted plants and floral decorations for the new year.

At the Beijing Flower Trading Center, flowers of various colors and types are attracting customers of all ages.

Among the most popular items are new orchid varieties with pouch-shaped petals that hold blessing cards for the new year.

Creative new designs, such as horse-shaped flower vases and pots, are also catching the eyes of many customers.

In Foshan City of south China's Guangdong Province, flower sellers even designed a potted plant featuring Phalaenopsis orchids arranged in the form of a galloping horse, evoking the joyful spirit of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

"This year marks the Year of the Horse, which carries the auspicious meaning of 'achieving immediate success.' Creative products here sell significantly better. Our sales volume for the New Year season has already grown by one third," said a flower seller in Foshan.

Apart from orchid flowers, red-colored amaryllis and kumquat trees, which symbolize good luck and prosperity, are also among the most popular choices.

In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the Lijiang Modern Flower Industry Park is seeing their calla lilies in white, gold, pink, purple, and many other colors being ordered by an increasing number of clients.

At the Dounan Flower Market -- known as the "flower capital of Asia" -- in Kunming, Yunnan Province, some florists have set up live-streaming rooms right at their stalls, making it easier for customers to buy flowers online and have them shipped directly to their homes.

Logistics companies have also opened priority channels for fresh flower delivery.

"Next-day delivery services are now available in approximately 15 provinces and dozens of cities across the country, while within Kunming, half-day delivery is offered to customers," said Ma Jiangjiang, manager of a local logistics company.

Flower markets bloom with sales ahead of Chinese New Year

China's border inspection authorities processed a total of 499 million inbound and outbound passenger trips in the first eight months of 2026, up 8.7 percent year on year, official data showed on Thursday.

Of the total, 242 million entries and exits were made by mainland residents, 196 million made by Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and 61.287 million made by foreign nationals, up 10 percent, 8.9 percent and 19.5 percent year on year, respectively.

Among foreign nationals entering China, 23.72 million entered visa-free, accounting for 77.6 percent of all foreign entries and marking a 26.8 percent increase year on year.

Border authorities inspected 28.148 million trips by various means of transportation, up 15 percent year on year. This included 665,000 flight trips, 75,000 train trips, 306,000 ship journeys, and 27.102 million motor vehicle trips, up 0.5 percent, 5.6 percent, 4.1 percent and 15.6 percent over the same period of last year, respectively. In recent years, the National Immigration Administration has rolled out a series of measures to facilitate cross-border movement of people and support high-level opening-up and high-quality development. These measures have significantly shortened clearance times for both Chinese and foreign travelers and transportation vehicles, while continuously improving port clearance convenience.

China sees surge in cross-border passenger trips in first eight months