Shanghai's Hongqiao flower market has seen a flourishing start as the Chinese New Year holiday has just ended. There is a scene of hustle and bustle in this flower market where fresh-cut flowers, potted plants and preserved fresh flowers are selling briskly. Roses are no doubt topping the list of best sellers since Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Most roses sold in Shanghai come from Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. However, a cold front in Kunming during the Spring Festival resulted in a decline of rose production and quality there. Thus, the prices are about 10% higher than last year.

A salesclerk at a florist's shop said that they received many orders for roses ahead of the Spring Festival. So they opened early on Feb. 10, the last day of the 7-day New Year holiday.

Eye-catching roses with dyed petals

A preserved rose gift box has become a new choice, though its price is much higher than the fresh-cut.

A rose needs to go through a number of procedures from unsealing to selling: trimming, tying up, matching, packaging and displaying.

(Photos by Bai Kelin)