KUNMING (China): Colourful flowers and their natural scents , ornamental plants and other garden items greet visitors who arrive at Dounan Village in Kunming, the largest flower wholesale market in Asia and the second-largest worldwide.
The panorama at the village adds to its unique climate and geographical conditions that favour the cultivation of many types of flowers and plants, that can serve as gifts or adorn homes and offices.
However, there is more to it, the flower trade in Dounan Village had created 600,000 job opportunities, of which 57 per cent or approximately 340,000 jobs are held by locals.
Also, since reopening in January this year after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dounan Flower Market has welcomed 2.3 million visitors as of May 31st, said Zhang Xian, the Publicity Director of the Dounan Flower Market.
In China, flowers and ornamental plants are significant contributors to its economy. The total flower supply reached an astonishing 16.2 billion stems in 2022, with Yunnan province alone contributing 70 percent or 11.2 billion stems. The trade value of these flowers amounted to over 12.1 billion RMB (1.0 CNY = 0.65 MYR).
Zhang shared this information with the media delegation from Southeast Asia who visited the Kunming International Flower Auction and Trading Centre recently. Bernama and Berita Harian, representing Malaysian media were in the delegation.
They delegation was invited by the People’s Government of Yunnan Province to participate in the “China-Laos Railway Journey” programme from 16-20 June. The program included a railway journey with stops in the cities of Kunming, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna.
During the first half of 2023, the Dounan Flower Market achieved impressive daily sales of fresh flowers, averaging 28 million stems with the highest recorded daily sales reaching 52 million stems, Zhang Xian stated.
When asked about the unsold flowers at the auction and trading centre, Zhang mentioned that the average daily amount of unsold flowers was less than 10,000 stems.
She explained that the discarded flowers undergo a process of sun drying and dehydration before turned into compost or fertilizer.
Located approximately 18 km from Kunming city centre, the Dounan Flower Market attracts around 20,000 visitors daily who come to buy or trade. The place is crowded and the whole place is a hive of activity.
Compared to other flower markets in China, the prices at Dounan Flower Market are considerably lower, and visitors can purchase bunches of exotic flowers starting at a retail price of 4 or 5 RMB.
The market primarily offers cut flowers, ornamental plants, vases, seedlings, small potted plants, and other items during its retail hours in the daytime.
The alluring colours, scents and the array of flowers at the flower market in Dounan Village is mesmerising, and will certainly provide an unforgettable experience for anyone who visits the place. – BERNAMA
