The annual Flower Fair in the city of Guangzhou , Guangdong Province (better known as Canton Province in older English texts) has become famous both at home and abroad. Guangzhouers' preoccupation with blossoms and flowers is, however, not limited to the annual Flower Fair, held as part of the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year; flowers and blossoms adorn the homes of most Guangzhouers year round. Guangzhou's interest in flowers and blossoms is a passion that has roots in a long tradition.

 

The annual Flower Fair in Guangzhou has been practiced some 500 years, since the middle of the Ming (CE 1368-1644) Dynasty period, and is closely related to the history and culture – and in particular, the traditional folk customs – of the people of Guangzhou. At the same time, the subtropical climate of Guangzhou is conducive to the growing of flowers and flowering plants, since it is a climate that is neither too cold nor too hot, neither too wet nor too dry.

 

For example, the average annual temperature in Guangzhou is a comfortable 21.7 degrees Celsius, while the city's average annual rainfall is a moderate-to-generous 1983 millimeters. Moreover, the region gets lots of sunlight hours annually, which aids in the blossoming of flowers. All of these factors, combined with a rich, alluvial soil, make for the ideal habitat for the growing of outdoor flowers (of course, with a bit of nutrient enriched water and sunlight – and even with artificial light – one can grow indoor flowers anywhere).

 

Flowers – and blossoming trees and shrubs – bloom profusely everywhere in the city of Guangzhou, setting the city's streets and avenues ablaze with color and sweet scents. Regardless of the season, there will be certain flowers, trees and shrubs in bloom in the streets of Guangzhou, though toward the arrival of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, when the Flower Fair is held, the number of flowers, trees and shrubs that will be in bloom reaches a height, as special varieties are chosen to blossom precisely at this time. There is a saying in Guangzhou, "Without the Flower Fair, there can be no Spring Festival!"; given Guangzhouers' love of flowers and blossoms, the Spring Festival is never in danger!!

 

Flower vendors all over the city sell their wares to the city's permanent and impermanent residents alike (the latter being tourists, of course). In fact, it is hard to say who buys more flowers at this time of year, the typical tourist or the typical Guangzhouer! During the annual Flower Fair, the following list of streets form an official part of the festival...

 

In the Yuexiu District, Xihu Road and Jiaoyu Road; in the Dongshan District, Dashatou Sanma Road; in the Liwan District, Liwan North Road; in the Haizhu District, Jiangnan West Road; in the Tianhe District, Tianhe East Road; in the Huangpu District, Dasha Di (Dasha Dixi and Dasha Didong... xi means "west"; dong means "east"); in the Fangcun District, Huadi; and in the Baiyun District, Dajie.

 

The flower and blossom combinations in each of these streets differ slightly from the flower and blossom combinations in the other streets. It is as if each separate street holds its own Flower Fair, but in coordination with the Flower Fairs of the other streets.

 

The Guangzhou Flower Fair begins on December 28 of the Lunar Calendar, and culminates during the early morning hours – i.e., some time after midnight – of the first day of the Lunar New Year, when all of the city's residents, and a good portion of its visitors, seem to be on the streets in one large, communal celebration. Not surprisingly, the local government takes great pains to decorate Guangzhou's street with lights, lanterns and other displays, all with a suitable motif that befits the Guangzhou Flower Fair. If you are in the Guangzhou area during the Lunar New Year, this is a festival not to be missed!