Flower Market in Yunnan: Prosperous as Flower

Yunnan, known as the "Kingdom of Flowers," is home to over 14,000 plant species and 2,700 types of flowers, making it one of the most diverse temperate flower regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Flowers are deeply intertwined with local culture, where traditions of planting, selling, wearing, and even eating flowers have been passed down for generations.

The Dounan Flower Market in Kunming (Renmin)

Yunnan's plant diversity is globally significant. Wild species such as camellias, rhododendrons, gentians, and primroses thrive here, while cultivated carnations, roses, lisianthus, and gerberas fill markets across China.

Yunnan's diverse landscape, from towering mountains to tropical rainforests, hosts a variety of flowers year-round: phoenix flowers in Yuxi, rapeseed blossoms in Luoping, rhododendrons in Luchun, blue jacarandas in Kunming, and cherry blossoms in Dali. Kunming, with its mild climate averaging 16.5°C, offers year-round floral displays, from camellias in January to plum blossoms in December.

Dali, with its millennium-old history as the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, is famed for its native camellias. The city’s streets, filled with flowing water and vibrant flowers, create a poetic landscape where every home nurtures plants and flowers.

Yunnan’s floral heritage dates back centuries. Qing dynasty records, such as "General Gazetteer of Yunnan during the Kangxi and Yongzheng Period(both were emperors during Qing in China)"(康熙《云南通志》和雍正《云南通志》), documented over 80 flower species. Camellias, celebrated for over a millennium since the Nanzhao Kingdom, and the blue jacaranda continue to symbolize Kunming’s floral beauty.

Yunnan's flower industry has flourished since China's reform era, with the Dounan Flower Market emerging as Asia's largest fresh-cut flower market. Producing over 18 billion stems annually and exporting to 40+ countries, Yunnan dominates China's floral trade. By 2025, the province aims for a total industry value of 40 billion yuan through a complete supply chain from cultivation to export.

Yunnan’s floral food culture includes the famous rose pastry (鲜花饼), a delicacy originating in the late Qing Dynasty over 100 years ago. Rose pastries combine floral fragrance with culinary and medicinal properties. The meticulous production involves harvesting roses, storing petals, making filling, fermenting, layering pastry, and baking, emphasizing fresh, natural ingredients. This dessert reflects the region's culinary philosophy of natural simplicity and cultural pride.