As China’s Spring Festival approaches, flower markets and traditional craft workshops are coming alive, reflecting both festive demand and the enduring appeal of cultural traditions.

In Shanghai’s Qingpu District, flower markets have entered their peak season, with long-blooming, easy-to-care-for plants proving especially popular. Vendors say consumers are increasingly drawn to greater variety and practicality. As one shop owner noted, “The colours of flowers on sale here are much richer than before… The best sellers right now are pansies, violets and primroses.”

Further south in Nanchang, southeast China’s Jiangxi Province, workshops producing Chengnan Dragon Lanterns, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, are also operating at full capacity. Orders for the hand-crafted lanterns have risen this year, with dozens completed daily for domestic and overseas markets. Demand has grown by around 10 percent, according to craftsmen.

To mark the upcoming Year of the Horse, artisans have introduced refreshed designs, including cartoon-style horse lanterns and DIY handheld versions, blending tradition with playful creativity and bringing festive heritage closer to everyday life.

Source: China Central Television