Flower merchants resume business in Yunnan

The Dounan Flower Market in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan province -- the largest fresh-cut flower market in Asia -- has resumed on-the-spot transactions for three days while novel coronavirus epidemic control efforts continue.

As of Tuesday night, the province had a total of 174 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia, including two deaths and 129 that had recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. The province has reported no new confirmed cases for five consecutive days since Friday.

The market, whose transaction volume topped nine billion pieces of flowers last year, resumed online trade on Feb 10.

Considered a barometer of the country’s flower business, it also sells fresh-cut flowers to more than 50 countries and regions.

“I have wanted to go out and buy some flowers for so long,” said a customer surnamed Lou. She went to the market on Monday as soon as she heard the market had resumed on-the-spot operations, which can provide more than 1,600 kinds of flowers.

“There are not too many buyers, though, less than normal,” said a merchant who asked to be referred to as Liu Liu. 

She said business will return to normal soon as logistics gradually resume, but prices are a little bit higher than before.