Much ado over lanterns and love

"I used to worry that traditional Chinese culture would be forgotten when Western festivals, such as Valentine's Day, got popular in China," says Feng Ji - cai, a famous Chinese writer and artist.

"But now, I am happy to see that people still remember and respect the Chinese cultural traditions."

The last time Lantern Festival coincided with Valentine's Day was in 1995, when many Chinese were still too conservative to talk about love openly. People did not understand the meaning behind Valentine's Day at that time and some even translated it into "Lover's Day" or "Mistress' Day".

But over the past two decades, attitudes have changed. "More Western festivals are becoming popular among young Chinese, and Feb 14 is a time of roses and chocolates, candle-lit dinners and Valentine cards," says You Guoqing, a culture scholar and columnist.

Many young people on social media announced that they would marry on Friday, hoping to bask in the good fortune of two festivals. It is estimated that the number of couples getting married on Feb 14 will be much higher in China than in previous years.

However, many people also complain that Valentine's Day is more about money than romance now in China. The prices of flowers soar, restaurants are packed and online sales peak. Big cities often see their downtown traffic stagnate as many people rush to a date on that night.

Owners of florists will make record-breaking sales this year. According to Laojiang, an owner of a florist in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, an ordinary rose will sell for at least 15 yuan ($2.50), up 30 percent from last year. He estimates that the price will be even higher as the festival approaches.

"I don't worry about the business. Orders are coming in continuously," he says.

Businessmen have also worked out new ideas to attract customers. A restaurant in Hangzhou is attempting to boost its business by giving every customer a bowl of yuanxiao and a rose to every female customer on Feb 14.