As the blossoming season approaches, you can see the floral touch of spring everywhere around. Peaches, cherries, magnolias, and other beautiful flowers and trees have already begun to bloom 🌸
Let's learn about this beautiful topic and discover all you need to know about flowers in China.
Importance of Flowers
in Chinese Culture
For centuries, 花 (huā), flowers have been important in Chinese culture. They've appeared in many poems, paintings, culinary, and also took part in traditional ceremonies and festivals.
01. Flowers of the Four Seasons
The Flowers of the Four Seasons is a Chinese idea that shows how different flowers represent each season. The concept reflects the Chinese appreciation for the beauty of nature and the cyclical rhythms of life.
The flowers that represent each of the four seasons consist of:
Spring: 春兰 (chūn lán), orchid
Summer: 夏荷 (xià hé), lotus
Autumn: 秋菊 (qiū jú), chrysanthemum
Winter: 冬梅 (dōng méi), plum blossom
02. Symbolizm of Flowers
Flowers hold deep symbolic meanings in Chinese culture, often representing virtues, emotions, and natural elements. Here are some of the most popular flowers in China and their cultural symbolism:
Giving Flowers:
Do's and Don'ts
🚫 Never Give Chrysanthemums
✅ Give Flowers on "Love Festivals"
In Chinese culture, there are several "love festivals" where giving flowers is a common and cherished practice. The festivals you can deliver a flower to someone to express your feelings are:
七夕节 (Qīxī Jié), Chinese Valentine's Day;
情人节 (Qínɡrén Jié), Valentine's Day;
网络情人节 (Wǎngluò Qínɡrén Jié), China's Unofficial Valentine's Day on May 20th
. RECOMMENDED FLOWERS.
Roses, particularly red ones, are favored for their association with love and romance. Also flowers like lilies and tulips are a good choice for expressing love and admiration.
🚫 Avoid White Flowers
In Chinese culture, color symbolism is very significant. White is the color of mourning in China, so it's best to avoid giving white flowers, especially if you're going to present flowers at someone's birthday.
. CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOR.
Since colors are important in Chinese culture, here's some ideas on choosing flower bouquet color:
🌹 红色 hóngsè ∙ red
Red symbolizes luck, happiness, and prosperity. Red flowers, such as roses, are great choice for celebrating joyous occasions like weddings or promotions.
🌷粉红色 fěnhóngsè ∙ pink
Pink represents romance, affection, and friendship. Pink flowers, like carnations or tulips, are suitable for expressing love and gratitude.
🌼 黄色 huángsè ∙ yellow
Yellow symbolizes warmth, joy, and positivity. Yellow flowers, such as sunflowers or daisies, are ideal for cheering up a friend or brightening someone's day.
✅ Consider Chinese Numerology
In Chinese culture, certain numbers are believed to be auspicious (吉利 jílì) or inauspicious (不吉利 bù jílì) based on their pronunciation.
Even numbers are generally considered lucky, so it's common to give flowers in pairs or even numbers.
. NOTE.
The numbers 2, 3, 6, and 8 are typically considered lucky, while 4 is considered unlucky.
Floral Vocabulary 🌷
Here is some floral vocabulary related to buying flowers and discussing them with your Chinese friends.
01. Bouquet and Flowers
The word "花" (huā) is used to describe flowers in general. If you're looking for fresh flowers to create a bouquet, you can say:
When discussing flowers or bouquets, you can use measure words such as:
束 (shù), measure word for a bunch or bouquet of flowers
朵 (duǒ), measure word for individual flowers or blossoms
Here are some sentences using measure words for flowers:
Where to See Blossoms 🌸
Every year between March and April you can see thousands of trees starting to bloom.
What could be better than admiring these blossoming trees and enjoying the moment when the city is filled with the sweet scent of peach and cherry blossoms?
Gucun Park, located in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, is popular for its breathtaking cherry blossoms. Each year, the park hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival, attracting visitors from near and far to enjoy the stunning display of pink and white flowers.
Yuyuantan Park is one of the largest parks in Beijing. With more than 2,000 cherry trees planted in the Cherry Garden, Yuyuantan Park is known as the best place to see cherry blossoms in Beijing.
03. Oceans of Tulips in Shanghai
Shanghai Flower Port, located nearby Dishui Lake in Shanghai, holds a Tulip Exhibition each year, and the flower display area, also known as "Tulip Park", covers about 28 hectares, making it a perfect place to admire tulips.
. NOTE .
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