On the morning of January 22, the 2025 Guangzhou Waterborne Flower Market themed "Blossoming Liwan, Spring in Guangzhou" opened as part of the 15th "Litchi Bay, New Xiguan" folk culture festivities. As an epitome of Lingnan culture, the event brings a splendid floral feast on both water and land.
The festivities began with the Lunar New Year Flower Market opening on January 8 at the Guangzhou Flower Expo Park. The flower market is divided into east and west zones. Nearly 300 stalls offer a vibrant festive atmosphere. Stalls in the east zone (Huabo Avenue, Bailan Road, and nearby areas) mainly sell moth orchids, Faber's cymbidium, Chinese orchids, peonies, holly, and other flora, while stalls in the west zone (Binfen Avenue, Lanhua Street, and Yingfang Road) sell Malabar chestnut, lilies, flamingo lilies, peach blossoms, and kumquats.
As one of the largest wholesale and retail flower markets in the country, the Lingnan Flower Market has been upgraded, now covering 110,000 square meters and housing over 1,000 shops and 2,000 indoor stalls for fresh flowers and potted plants.
At the Waterborne Flower Market, a series of spectacular performances were presented on the water stage. Liang Shanshan and Zhou Lishan presented a modern Cantonese opera "Returning Home", blending traditional Chinese elements with Cantonese melodies to create an artistic expression that transcends time and space.
The brass quintet FiveTone, with the spirit of "from Guangzhou, beyond Guangzhou, and back to Guangzhou", captivated the audience with renditions of "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "I Love You, China". Their fusion of Western brass music and Chinese emotion truly provides a refresh.
A massive dragon danced on the main stage amidst sparks and fireworks, mimicking a mighty sea dragon emerging with unstoppable force. Meanwhile, a procession of boats glided gracefully across the lake with soft music, resembling a serpent weaving through the water. The display of dragon and serpent vying for prominence marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake.
At the stalls of zanhua, a type of exquisite floral headdress on the list of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, girls dressed in Hanfu with zanhua look like blooming lotuses by the lake. Traditional crafts such as jade carving, paper cutting, and Cantonese embroidery attracted crowds of people interested in Chinese culture.
Actors in straw raincoats sell fishing lanterns, and performers in Chinese-style costumes passionately hawk flowers, while those in Lingnan attire interact with the crowd. They enthusiastically introduced the symbolic meanings of various flowers and suggested the most suitable recipients for each.
During the Cantonese opera parade, the exquisite melodies and rhythms fully showcased the elegance of Lingnan. Performers representing the traditional roles of sheng, dan, jing, and chou stepped down from the stage to interact with the audience, offering visitors a glimpse into the other side of Cantonese opera's charm, making it a shining jewel amidst the floral feast at Liwan Lake.