Petals to profits: Cherries, peonies and products burst into full bloom

Amid a gentle breeze and a light drizzle, tourist Deng Deng finds herself seated in a cart on an elevated railway in Wuhan, Hubei province. Gazing through the glass floor beneath her, she marvels at the springtime spectacle of white and pink cherry blossoms below.

"Viewing the blossoms from an aerial perspective is a truly unique experience," says the visitor from South China's Guangdong province.

As spring unfolds across China, flowers like cherry and peach blossoms, tulips and poppies are bursting into full bloom, bringing color and life to the season. This floral explosion gives a nice boost to the spring economy. But this year, something is different.

In previous years, Deng's spring trips, from visiting cherry blossoms in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, to peonies in Luoyang, Henan province, were often limited to brief weekend getaways. This time, however, she planned a week-long stay in Wuhan, combining flower viewing with cheering for the Chinese basketball team at a FIBA Women's World Cup qualifier and tasting local delicacies.

Her experience reflects the evolving landscape of China's spring economy. Cities are introducing fun activities, such as aerial flower viewing, flower field hot pots, cozy tea ceremonies by the stove, immersive performances and international sports events — all aimed at enhancing visitor experiences, encouraging longer stays and increasing spending.

Earlier, the Hubei provincial government announced plans to host about 400 events, including concerts and sports competitions, throughout the flower-viewing season, which is expected to last until May.

Deng spent more than 5,000 yuan ($724.05) on her Wuhan trip, covering transportation, accommodation and tickets — an expense she considers worth every penny.

"The breathtaking blooms, thrilling sports matches, and delicious food all helped me relax," she says. "I feel recharged and ready to get back to work with renewed vigor."

Data from online travel platform Fliggy showed that since March, searches for "spring outing", "flower viewing", and "spring travel" have surged 380 percent from the previous period. Meanwhile, Qunar reported a more than 60 percent increase in flower-viewing searches over the March 14-15 weekend, with traditional destinations such as Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Chengdu, Sichuan province; Wuhan; and Kunming, Yunnan province ranking among the top 15 nationwide.

China's tradition of flower viewing dates back centuries. As early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people traveled to the countryside with friends and family to admire blossoms, leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry celebrating spring.

Cherry blossoms have become a calling card for Wuhan. The number of cherry trees in the city has grown fivefold, from roughly 100,000 in 2012 to 500,000 today. The number of cherry blossom viewing spots has risen to 221 citywide, extending the viewing season to nearly two months.

Since March 1, the iconic East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden has received 212,000 visitors, including 72,000 on March 21. Tourists dressed in various styles of hanfu — traditional Chinese attire adorned with intricate embroidery — pose for photos beneath the blooming trees.

Photographer Chen Songlin has been busy capturing such moments.

"During the blooming season, I work from 9 am to 4 pm and can earn nearly 1,000 yuan a day," he says. "With the season expected to last longer this year, I hope for more orders."

Beyond tourism, the value of flowers is expanding along the industrial chain, bringing new opportunities to businesses and local households.

In Heze, Shandong province, peonies are at the center of a growing industry. With a cultivation history spanning over 1,500 years and a rich cultural legacy surrounding the flower, the city, known as China's "peony capital", attracted 9.92 million visitors during its peony festival last year, up 14.8 percent from a year earlier.

Even before the flowers began to bloom this year, a variety of peony-themed products, from bags and magnets to paper-cuttings, embroidery, ceramics, and silk items, have already been popping up in stores.

In one workshop, artisan Li Changsuo teaches apprentices how to craft peony-shaped porcelain pieces. "Heze's peony porcelain combines centuries-old ceramic craftsmanship with local floral culture," Li says, adding that an array of products has been launched for the blooming season.

The city has also been promoting a "peony plus" initiative to expand the industry beyond ornamental use. Peony roots are used in traditional medicine, seeds are used for oil extraction, and stamens are used for tea production. Products ranging from pastries to skincare items have further boosted the flower's economic value.

Currently, more than 120 local enterprises are engaged in producing and exporting peony-related products, developing over 260 varieties sold to more than 30 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany, and Japan. The industry's total output value exceeded 13 billion yuan in 2025.

Peonies have also been a game-changer for local livelihoods.

China will implement initiatives to upgrade services to benefit consumers, develop a number of new, high-profile consumption scenarios with broad appeal, and move faster to nurture new areas of consumption growth, according to the country's government work report this year.

Pang Zhiyong, an expert with the Chinese Society for Horticultural Science, says China's blossoming flower economy not only reflects the country's commitment to green development but also demonstrates its strong economic vitality at the start of the year.