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Office worker Ms. Wang stopped at a subway flower vending machine on her way home from work, picking up a small bouquet of double-petaled chrysanthemums for 9.9 yuan ($1.37).

"The flowers are so soothing after a busy day at work," she said.

Flower vending machines have recently appeared in subway stations across Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and Shenyang, offering convenient access to fresh flowers.

The trend reflects a growing national interest in flowers, with Dounan in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, serving as the hub of the country's flower industry. Known as the "flower capital of Asia," Dounan hosts the largest fresh-cut flower market on the continent and the second largest worldwide.

The Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center in Dounan is Asia's largest flower auction market. During the first quarter of this year, it auctioned 360 million stems of fresh-cut flowers, averaging over 4 million stems daily. These flowers are distributed throughout China and exported to more than 50 countries and regions, including Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Russia and Australia.

Zhu Qi, head of planning at the auction center, said flower purchases are becoming more routine and part of everyday life, rather than just for special occasions.

"Flowers used to be gifts, but now they're a part of life," Zhu said.

Tourists take photos at the Dounan Flower Market in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Xiansi)

Behind the rising flower consumption is a booming logistics industry and better preservation techniques that keep flowers fresh and appealing. The flower supply chain has become increasingly reliable with improved infrastructure and more efficient processes. Fine-tuned packaging methods, including reinforced stems, moisture pads and freshness sleeves, help ensure flowers arrive in great condition.

Digital upgrades in flower cultivation have also greatly improved the quality and appearance of flowers. Smart greenhouses, driven by data algorithms, are gradually replacing traditional open fields. New techniques that allow for richer colors, longer bloom periods, timed flowering and off-season blooming are creating broader opportunities for the floral industry.

China now stands as the world's largest flower producer, with nearly 220,000 flower and seedling enterprises generating an annual output valued at over 520 billion yuan, according to the China Flower Association.

Tourists admire blooming peonies at the National Peony Garden in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, April 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yixi)

Luoyang in central China's Henan Province celebrates its peony viewing season every April. Visitors stroll through city streets filled with blossoms and crowds. The springtime experience in this ancient capital now includes wearing traditional Hanfu clothing, admiring peonies, exploring historic streets and visiting museums.

Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province has created "run and blossom" travel packages that combine its annual cherry blossom festival with the city marathon. In Sichuan Province, Mianyang has established three scenic routes where visitors can view rapeseed flowers, peach blossoms and Magnolia biondii. A special flower-themed train between Kunming and Beijing has carriages decorated with camellias, gesang flowers and other local blooms, giving passengers a garden-like experience during their journey.

Visitors walk past the mascot of the 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show in Shanghai's Huangpu district, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

According to online travel platforms, interest is surging in flower festivals. These include the Peony Cultural Festival in Luoyang, the Peach Blossom Tourism and Cultural Festival in Nyingchi in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, and the Crabapple Blossom Festival in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 2025 Shanghai International Flower Show, currently underway, covers 390 hectares, making it the largest in the event's history.

Lou Jiajun, a professor at East China Normal University, said integrating flowers with multiple experiences holds great potential. With continued innovation, floral resources can be transformed into tourism brands that showcase local identity and cultural richness. By incorporating flowers into cultural, artistic and educational settings, cities can create immersive experiences and turn the floral economy into a new growth engine.