Guangzhou is apparently known as the “flower city” in China due to the city’s emphasis on gardens and trees. Around the city, there are numerous flower markets for people to buy fresh flowers for the Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year). According to the website “China Highlights,” the tradition of these flower markets goes back to the ancient night flower fair (I could not find the date of the first flower fair). There is a saying among the Cantonese people that states, “No flower fairs, no Spring Festival.”

Henry (someone I had recently met) and I went into the city to one of the streets that hosted this market.